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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 Six: Wings of Love
Ryouko ran as if her life depended on it. She didn't know where she was going or what direction she was going in as she randomly picked the garden paths. The only thing she could think of was to get away. Blue streaks dotted the green landscape that she could only barely see in her tear soaked vision as she ran.
She stopped to catch her breath, leaning against a tree. Running was hard work when she was so used to flying or phasing to her destinations, but that was the furthest thing on her mind. Tenchi and Aeka. The scene played over and over again before her eyes. Their embrace, his hands on her back, the way they looked into each other's eyes, the kiss they shared. Tenchi had finally made his choice.
'It was obvious all along.' She thought to herself. 'He never should have released me from my cave. I bet he wished he never did at all. After all, I've been nothing but a burden.' She turned her red eyes to the night sky, tears still flowing down her face, wetting her pink blouse, a blouse that Tenchi had bought for her.
She looked at the dim lights of the stars, twinkles of hope far, far away. 'If I return to the stars,' She reasoned, 'then Tenchi and Aeka wouldn't have to deal with me anymore. I'm sure they'd prefer that. I could be a pirate again, go back to being a monster. After all, it's what I do best. Or maybe I'll go back to Earth and seal myself back in that cave, where Tenchi should have just left me.'
She stood back up, fists clenched, determined to get as far away as possible. She flexed her telepathy muscle in the back of her mind to call Ryo-ohki to her. She waited for several minutes until she remembered that her sister wouldn't be able to hear her. Giving up, she collapsed to the ground sobbing.
* * *
Tenchi skidded to a stop, breathing heavily. He had come to a crossroads in the path. 'Which way did she go, left or right?' He asked himself. With no clues to go by, he chose the path to the right, the one lined with blue hydrangeas like those that surrounded his house back on Earth.
'I hope I'm not too late.' He desperately hoped, knowing that if he didn't find Ryouko in the next few minutes that he wasn't likely to find her until she decided to show herself again. A nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind. 'I hope she doesn't do anything drastic. Why does she always try to act so tough? I know she's more vulnerable than she lets on.' He was sprinting as fast as his legs would take him, extending his legs as far as they would reach, pumping his arms, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Finally he found her, and what he saw tore him apart. She was kneeling on the stone walkway, her back to him, hands hanging limply at her sides. He could hear her sobs from where he stood. His heart demanded he act, but he was afraid. So afraid.
"Ryouko." He said, almost breathlessly.
His voice startled her, and she scrambled to her feet, turning to face Tenchi. What he saw broke his heart again. Her normal casual, assertive self turned into the image of this broken soul that weakly stood before him. It wasn't the Ryouko he knew and it was his fault.
Tenchi took a step forward…
…and Ryouko took a step back, the moonlight reflecting in her tears.
"You don't need to tell me Tenchi. I already saw it." Ryouko sobbed, her shoulders shaking.
Tenchi was frozen, his mind screamed for him to say something, but he couldn't form the words.
"Tenchi, send me back to the cave." Ryouko begged.
"Wha-" was all Tenchi would muster.
"I'll just be in the way if I'm still around, right? I know you must regret freeing me anyway." She sobbed.
Tenchi's eyes started to water. He couldn't believe what he was hearing her say. 'Say something damnit!' He cursed at himself.
"Or I can go back to the stars." Ryouko offered. "I won't even take Ryo-ohki away from Sasami. I'll just leave!"
Tenchi snapped. Something deep inside of him unlocked as the last conflict between his heart and his mind shattered. He stepped out towards Ryouko and reached for her, grabbing her by the shoulders as she tried to step away from him. Her amber eyes called out to his very heart, and in those windows to her soul, he saw the infinite sadness that he had caused her, and he saw her need to be loved by him.
He drew Ryouko into himself and embraced her, hugging her to his body as tightly as he could. Ryouko began to struggle until she felt a wet drop fall on her temple. She realized that Tenchi was crying.
Tenchi leaned his head down, his lips next to her ear. "Please Ryouko, don't leave me." He said, his voice breaking.
Ryouko froze in his embrace, confused as Tenchi continued. "You've got it all wrong Ryouko. I've never regretted releasing you, I've never wished for you to go back to that prison, and if you ever left me…I don't know what I would do without you. Ryouko, you misinterpreted what you saw. Miss Aeka kissed me, I did not kiss her."
Ryouko's sobs came to a sudden halt, she tipped her head up to look into Tenchi's eyes. He faltered, but pushed on. "Ryouko, I had just told Miss Aeka that I could not return her feelings for her the way she wanted me to."
Ryouko's expression turned from one of devastation to one of hope.
Tenchi struggled. He didn't trust his voice to work properly. He wanted to tell her everything, express so many things, yet he could not get the words to come out. Instead, he placed his palms to Ryouko's face, cupping her cheeks. She let out a shaky gasp as he began to lean forward.
She barely had to time to realize that all her hopes and dreams were coming to pass in a dizzying rush. That this single moment in her long, painful life was what she had been waiting for since the nameless tree had granted her the vision of her future.
The future was now as Tenchi's lips softly met her own. Their tender kiss expressed unparalled emotions. Ryouko's body was shaking again, only this time it was out of joy. Their bodies and souls became that kiss under the moonlit night, surrounded by the hydrangeas.
When their kiss ended, they tipped their heads to look into each other's eyes. The sight of Ryouko's face filled Tenchi with a warmth he couldn't describe. He could feel her love for him, he could feel her happiness, her adoration.
"I love you, Ryouko." He whispered breathlessly, emotionally.
Ryouko's tears were those of happiness as she smiled an angelic smile. "I love you too, Tenchi." She whispered back.
Tenchi shed another tear as he pulled her in to another, more passionate kiss, pressing his lips against hers. Ryouko's body surrendered to the kiss, her body going limp against his. She suddenly realized she was physically and emotionally exhausted.
Sensing Ryouko's exhaustion, Tenchi led her to a bench and helped her to sit. He then sat as close to her as he could, Ryouko nestling her head on his shoulder, their bodies pressed next to teach other as they settled into a comfortable silence.
Tenchi looked down at the ground and saw a cluster of small dainty plants with green hard leaves. A stem emerged from the leaves and from it hung dainty pure white blooms. 'You were wrong Aeka.' He realized. 'Yellow tulips don't stand for true love, they stand for hopeless love.' Looking back down at the flowers by his feet, he realized. 'Lily of the Valley is the flower that stands for love, faithful and everlasting.'
Tenchi hugged Ryouko close to him, she made sniffing noises as the remnants of her tears finished their course. She had been waiting to hear those three words for so long, and now he was finally hers. "Tenchi?" She asked.
"Hmm?" He replied, his breath in her ear.
"Does this mean that were… you know…" She trailed off.
"Boyfriend and girlfriend?" He finished for her.
She nodded her head.
"Well…" Tenchi began, a silly expression on his face. "I was kinda hoping after all this, that yes." He teased her, squeezing her tight, relishing in the feel of having her so close to him, finally realizing that he had wanted this for so long.
"So then, you really are mine?" She asked, looking up at him."
Smiling, he tipped his head down to return her gaze. "All yours, as you are all mine." He said, giving her a brief kiss.
Ryouko's expression saddened. "Tenchi, what about…what about Aeka?" She asked hesitantly.
Rubbing her shoulder, he replied, "She told me to go after you."
"She what?" Ryouko asked in disbelief.
"I was surprised too. It…it wasn't easy for her. I know that. She was very upset." Tenchi began.
Ryouko noticed the hurt in Tenchi's eyes. "Tenchi, I'm sorry. I know it must have been hard for you too, to make that choice."
"Ryouko, it wasn't the choice that was hard to make. I knew all along what I wanted." Tenchi said, planting a kiss on Ryouko's forehead. "It was only finally hurting Aeka that was so difficult. But she said she understood. When she kissed me so suddenly, and you saw us, she was devastated. She did not want you to misunderstand her actions, although I understand why you did."
"I wonder if she'll be okay." Ryouko pondered.
Tenchi looked off to the sky. "I think she'll be just fine. Aeka is a strong woman, Ryouko."
Ryouko nodded, agreeing. They sat there in the calmness of the night. The Jurian Fireflies using the light of their bodies as beacons to call to each other. The gentle glow of the moons and the lamps washed down on the gardens and on the new couple sitting together on the bench, lost in the sudden but welcome change in their lives.
* * *
"Ryouko? Ryouko? Wake up." Tenchi's quiet voice whispered into her ear.
A little dazed, Ryouko blinked. Realizing she must have fallen asleep on Tenchi's shoulder, she looked up, seeing Tenchi's smiling face looking down at her. 'She's cute when she's tired.' He thought to himself. "Come on, you're exhausted. You've had a rough few days." Tenchi said, supporting his new girlfriend by her upper body before standing and helping her rise.
"I guess I'm more tired than I realized." She admitted, leaning on Tenchi for support as he led her through the garden. "It's only because I don't have my powers right now." She added.
Tenchi chuckled. 'Always trying to be the tough guy. She needs to learn to let herself depend on others for a change.' He thought to himself on their way back to the hotel.
* * *
The Crown Princess received a few sideways glances as she walked through the lobby. Her hair was disheveled, her robes wrinkled, and she had a stagger to her step. She was mentally exhausted, having just lost a battle that she had been fighting for the past three years of her life. She was physically tired as well. Her body had been tense while she went through so many emotions. Her muscles ached, her eyes burned, and she had a pounding headache.
Turning the corner, she froze, her weary muscles screaming at her for the sudden jarring. Standing in front of the elevator, she saw Tenchi. His arms were protectively wrapped around and supporting Ryouko, who Aeka noticed, looked even worse for wear than she herself felt, save for a slight blissful smile that Ryouko wore.
Sliding back behind the corner, Aeka tore her gaze from the sight. Her first instinct was to storm the two of them, yell at the lecherous space pirate for hanging on Lord Tenchi, throw some insults and initiate a fight. But she made herself stop, reminding herself that she had told Tenchi to follow his heart and go to Ryouko, and she had meant it. However, that did not diminish her feelings for the Crown Prince any less. She knew she wasn't ready to see the two of them together yet.
'In time,' Aeka pondered, 'I shall deal with this. But as of now, I do not think I could face that sort of scene. Neither do I wish to see any looks of pity upon their faces. Ryouko may have won Lord Tenchi, but I will retain my pride.'
Aeka waited for the new couple to be taken away in the elevator before proceeding past the elevator and to her room where she collapsed on her bed, crying into her pillow. There, on her stomach in the disheveled robe she had worn out that night, the Princess fell into a dreamless sleep.
* * *
"Come on Ryouko, just a little more." Tenchi urged her on, only feet from her door. She rummaged in her pocket and pulled out her room card. She missed the slot in the door on the first try. It took Tenchi steadying her hand to get the card in before the door unlocked.
"Why don't you go put on some pajamas while I get your bed ready for you Ryouko? Tenchi offered.
Ryouko nodded and went over to her dresser and pulled out her pajamas. She then began unbuttoning her blouse. Stopping halfway down her shirt, she paused, and remembering he was with her, looked at Tenchi.
His face was a dark shade of red, and he was scratching the back of his head. He quickly turned around. Ryouko sighed to herself. 'Even now, Tenchi is still Tenchi.' She chuckled to herself. 'Even still, he is my Tenchi.'
She picked up her pajamas. "You can turn around, I'll go into the bathroom to change."
He looked at her with greatful eyes and began to turn her bed down for her.
She came out of the bathroom shortly after, feeling refreshed after washing her face and changing. She wore a pair of short brown and blue boxers and a fitted black tank top. She noticed Tenchi trying not to admire her long legs as he helped her climb into bed. Once she was settled, he drew the comforter up to her neck, tucking her in.
"Please tell me this isn't a dream, Tenchi." Ryouko asked.
"What do you mean?" Tenchi asked, confused.
"It's just that this was all so sudden, so wonderful, it's like a dream. I'm afraid I'll wake up and it won't be real. I don't know what I'd do if that happened." Ryouko explained.
Tenchi knelt down on the floor next to Ryouko, running his hand through her hair, pausing for only a second to realize that despite how spiky it appeared, how amazingly soft it was. "It's not a dream, I love you Ryouko." He said
"Then stay here with me tonight." Ryouko asked him.
Tenchi began to stammer.
"You don't want to?" Ryouko asked, hurt.
He sighed. "I…I do want to, but I just don't know if it's right."
"I don't care what's right or wrong, Please don't leave me Tenchi." She begged him.
Tenchi's war with his emotions ended when he looked into her eyes and saw her need for him to stay. "O…okay. I'll stay here next to you." He agreed.
Ryouko rolled onto her right side, her left leg and arm at an angle to rest on the bed. Tenchi cupped the side of her face and gave her a kiss on the lips. When she didn't respond to his kiss, Tenchi realized she had already fallen fast asleep.
He smiled down at her. "I love you." He whispered in her ear.
Walking back to the other side of the bed, Tenchi stopped and looked at her dresser. Standing on top, resting against the wall was Ryouko's crayon horse drawing. He smiled warmly, glad that she had decided to embrace her newfound memories.
Standing by the bed, Tenchi resisted the urge to crawl under the covers to lie next to her. Instead, he climbed on top of the comforter and curled up next to Ryouko's sleeping form, his left arm protectively over top of her. Before he could stop to contemplate the night's events, he too had fallen asleep.
* * *
In the next room, Washu smiled to herself. She had heard the two quietly muffled voices in the hallway enter her daughter's room, and so far she had heard no one come out.
'I'm so happy for you Ryouko.' She thought to herself. 'So happy.'
* * *
Ryouko squinted, the morning sunlight coming in through the windows. 'I've got to remember to pull those damn curtains closed at night.' She scolded herself. Rolling onto her back, she felt a weight across her chest. Looking to her right, she saw Tenchi's sleeping face.
Her heart warmed as she suddenly remembered what had happened the night before. "It wasn't a dream after all.' She realized. Closing her eyes, she relished in the feel of their closeness despite the large size of the bed. 'Heaven. It really is like heaven.' She thought happily. Although she still found it amazing that Tenchi had chosen her, that he had the courage to tell her how he felt and that he was actually enjoying being so close to her. She realized that Tenchi really was different than the child she had watched grow up outside her cave, and different still from the boy she had met after he had freed her from her cave.
Turning on her left side to face Tenchi, she sighed to herself, realizing he had slept outside the covers. 'Of course, there are still some things that he's not comfortable with yet.' She pondered their relationship, realizing that she and Tenchi had known each other ever since he was a child. Although it was only her astral form he could see, and she could not speak to him, the two had played with each other for years. On top of that, she had been living in his home for almost three years now. It was only natural that the two of them be physically close now that they were actually dating.
Although she knew it wouldn't be easy, Ryouko decided, 'I won't push him into anything. I want him to be ready for whatever we do.' She snaked an arm out of the comforter and ran her fingers through Tenchi's long bangs.
Tenchi slowly stirred, blinking his eyes twice. His first reflex at seeing Ryouko upon waking up was to yell and flee, but his memories of the night before overrode that instinct. As he looked at his girlfriend with her head on her pillow, her bangs brushed back from her forehead and her body buried in a sea of blankets, all he could do was smile and shut his eyes, lost in her gentle touch.
Ryouko smiled to herself, pleased to see Tenchi so relaxed and happy. She leaned forward to give him a light kiss on the lips. "Good morning, my Tenchi." She purred softly.
"I'd have to say I really like waking up like this." Tenchi coyly said, hugging Ryouko close to him and kissing her back deeply. He surprised Ryouko when his tongue entered her mouth. Letting him lead the way, she frenched him in return as they explored their deepened kiss.
Suddenly a knock sounded at the door. Tenchi and Ryouko froze as Sasami's cheerful voice called out, "Ryouko, wake up! I've personally cooked breakfast this morning, and I'd like everyone to eat together, so come downstairs soon, okay?"
Ryouko pulled her lips from Tenchi's. "Okay Sasami, we…uh…I'll be right down!" She exclaimed.
They laid there frozen, still staring at each other until they heard Sasami knock on the next door as she began to wake up the others. Ryouko began to chuckle and soon the couple was laughing together at the interruption.
Ryouko got out of bed and stretched, relishing in the feel of Tenchi admiring her body. "Shall we get ready for breakfast?" She suggested.
Reluctant to leave the warmth of the bed, Tenchi rolled off, his clothes he had worn the night before a wrinkled mess. "Guess I'll head back to my room to change." He said sheepishly as he headed for the door.
Turning the knob, he looked back at Ryouko. "I love you." He said.
Ryouko smiled warmly at him. "I love you too. Now go get ready!"
Opening the door and stepping into the hallway, Tenchi froze as Mihoshi suddenly staggered out of Kiyone's room. Eyes half shut, she walked across the hall and walked into the door to her room before stepping back and opening it first before going in.
'Guess she didn't see me.' Tenchi thought to himself before returning to his room.
* * *
Downstairs in the ballroom, Sasami was bringing the last of the dishes out from the kitchen and setting them on the table. Washu, Ryo-ohki in toddler form, Mihoshi and Kiyone all sat around the table as Tenchi and Ryouko came in together.
"Sasami, it smells so good in here! We haven't had your cooking in days!" Ryouko exclaimed.
She blushed slightly. "I missed cooking for everyone, and I really had to argue with the kitchen staff to let me cook for us, so you all better eat up!"
"Where is your sister, Sasami?" Kiyone asked.
Tenchi and Ryouko shared a look as Sasami explained. "Oh, she said she wasn't feeling well this morning, and she'd be a little late. By the way, did everyone have a good time last night?"
"The Miho-Kiyo team got high scores in all the karaoke bars last night!" Mihoshi replied.
Kiyone nodded, for once not snapping at Mihoshi. ""We really did put on a couple of good shows, you guys should have been there."
Mihoshi giggled innocently. "Tenchi and Ryouko must have had a good time last night too, I saw you come out of Ryouko's room this morning in the clothes you wore out last night, Tenchi."
'Leave it to Mihoshi to make such an observation.' Tenchi mused as he began to stammer and Ryouko turned red.
"That's right Mihoshi." Washu said, nodding. "I heard them go into Ryouko's room last night and no one left until this morning."
Sasami gasped. "That must mean that…"
"It just means that I fell asleep in Ryouko's room." Tenchi interrupted, his face bright red. He could feel Ryouko's confusion and fears at his statement, but he wasn't done yet. He took hold of Ryouko's hand. "I um...want you all to know that Ryouko and I are now dating." He said, somewhat sheepishly.
"Tenchi and Ryouko are boyfriend and girlfriend now?" Sasami exclaimed.
Just then, Aeka stepped into the room. "Sorry to keep you all waiting." She said regally, the smallest of smiles on her face as she struggled to appear strong.
Truth be told, Aeka did not want to come to breakfast at all. She had forced herself to, reasoning that she would have to deal with the situation eventually, and she did not want Tenchi or Ryouko to worry about her. Never once did she make eye contact with the couple as she forced herself to take her usual spot beside Tenchi.
"Aeka-onechan, did you know that Tenchi and Ryouko are dating now? Sasami cheerfully asked. "I always knew they'd make the perfect couple!"
Tenchi and Ryouko sweatdropped, not knowing how Aeka would take her sister's words. They could sense her sadness, feel her frustration, but the words had already been said and there was nothing they could do.
"Yes, Sasami, I…I already knew." Aeka said quietly.
It was then that Aeka realized that she really hadn't stood a chance. That if Sasami could feel that Tenchi and Ryouko were meant to be together, perhaps it was part of Tsunami's greater plan. 'Perhaps. Perhaps this was meant to be.' She pondered.
Washu looked at her blushing daughter and her new boyfriend, feeling happy and proud. Deciding not to give them any more trouble, she exclaimed, "Let's eat, everyone!"
* * *
Tenchi strolled through the shopping areas, looking for a particular store. Tonight, everyone had decided to go out together. Apparently there was a festival tonight, in celebration of a summer solstice, similar to the Bon Odori Festivals held during the summer in Japan. Umano had surprised Tenchi with its similarity to his planet, and more precisely his country. It gave him a feel of how much influence Empress Funaho had over the Jurian empire.
Getting the chance to leave the hotel without Ryouko tagging along had been less difficult than he had feared. She was still feeling a bit exhausted, and he had urged her to take a nap for this very purpose of going out without her.
Finally recognizing what he was looking for, he entered the store where Ryouko had bought his vest. He looked around, finding the jewelry counter that Ryouko had taken interest in. Looking at all the choices before him, he tried to pick out what had caught Ryouko's eye. There were so many choices that lay before him. Thick gold bracelets inlaid with precious stones. 'Thats not her style.' Tenchi guessed. 'I can't see her wearing gold.' Huge silver and gold rings with monumental rocks set into them. 'Too big, too loud. Ryouko can be pretty flashy, but thats not her style either.' He reasoned.
Eventually, Tenchi found the piece that he figured suited Ryouko best. It was different from all the other pieces in the collection. It wasn't too flashy, nor too simple. It was a platinum necklace that had small chips of diamonds that shone like the stars in the night's sky. 'That has to be it.' He realized as he asked an attendant to get it for him.
Tenchi ran all the way back to the hotel, a broad smile on his face as he tried to imagine the best way to give Ryouko her first present later that night.
* * *
The transport vehicle cruised along the road carrying the Princesses and their company to the city park for the festival. Similar to Japan, most people wore yukata to the festival, long, airy robes with wide, short sleeves. Sasami had chosen a light green color yukata with a design of white rabbits and Aeka had chosen one with a light blue shade and a decor of white fans. Kiyone and Mihoshi's yukatas had a similar design of checks in tan and blue, respectively. Washu had chosen a dark green yukata with white cranes and Ryo-ohki in toddler form wore a yellow yukata with a carrot design. Ryouko wore a lavender yukata with a decor of white fireflies and Tenchi's yukata was dark blue with a white bamboo leaf design.
Finally arriving at their destination, Tenchi hopped out of the vehicle and helped everyone out as the long robes made if difficult to step down in. Aeka blushed slightly as Tenchi held her hand. Ryouko looked on wearily. Although she could understand why, the three of them still had not talked since the day before. Ryouko was glad that Aeka was taking things as well as she was. 'Tenchi was right, she really is strong.' She realized. She hoped that they could do something to lighten Aeka's mood.
Everyone looked around them at the long row of stalls that lined the road and the large number of rides that were placed around the park. There were the usual game and food booths set up in the long aisle, and there were rides and attractions like a carousel, a ferris wheel, bumper cars and a haunted house. Sasami gasped as she looked at all the things there were to do.
Tenchi looked at each of the girls as they examined their surroundings. 'So many things are different, and yet, they are still the same.' He inwardly mused. It had been only less than a day since he had confessed his love to Ryouko and they became a couple. He had worried about the impact he would cause to the rest of his friends that were really family, but as far as he could tell, they were all treating the situation as if it were normal, or even expected.
He glanced at Aeka, the one exception. Although he knew she was trying to be strong, he could feel that she was still deeply hurt, and his heart was sad for her. Tenchi hoped that he and the rest of his and Aeka's shared family would be able to ease her through her hard times.
"Lets go catch goldfish!" Sasami suddenly exclaimed, pulling Washu and Ryo-ohki with her into a stall down the aisle.
"Ohhh, Kiyone look, a karaoke booth, let's go over there!" Mihoshi said dreamily as she tugged on Kiyone's sleeve, dragging her in the other direction.
Tenchi, Ryouko and Aeka stood in the middle of the walkway, other festival goers walking around them. No one knew what to say, what to do. The air was awkward. Aeka wanted to just run away, the pain was great and she felt like the proverbial third wheel. Tenchi and Ryouko were unsure of how to act, and no one wanted to make the first move. Looking around at all the options, Ryouko finally got an idea.
"Come on, Princess, let's hit the arcade!" She exclaimed, grabbing Aeka by her yukata and pulling her off towards the large stall that was set up as an arcade. Tenchi walked behind them, unsure of where things were leading, and praying that wherever it led, things went well.
* * *
"You are going down, Ryouko!" Aeka exclaimed, a wicked expression on her face.
"Oh yeah? Take that, princess, and that!" Ryouko retorted, her face scrunched in concentration.
"Girls, please, take it easy!" Tenchi raised his voice to be heard over them and the furious tapping sounds as Ryouko and Aeka battled each other at a fighting game in the arcade.
Ryouko slammed a combination of buttons and spun the joystick, her legs spread apart underneath her as she hunkered her body down at the machine as if she could dodge and weave the attacks delt by Aeka's character herself. The machine suddenly uttered a loud noise, and a bright sign began flashing that said, "Winner!" that was displayed over Aeka's side of the machine.
"That was so unfair Aeka. You chose the cheesiest character!" Ryouko whined.
"Ha! It is all about skill Ryouko, and I won that match fair and square." Aeka stated, crossing her arms over his chest.
Ryouko stuck her tongue out at Aeka and reached a finger to her eye, showing the skin under her eyeball. "Cheese!" She stated.
"Fine then! One more match!" Aeka persisted, throwing her fist in the air.
"Let's go!" Ryouko said, taking the challenge.
"But Ryouko, this is your twelfth match and you still haven't won one yet!" Tenchi complained.
Ryouko turned her head sharply to look at Tenchi out of slitted eyes. "What did you say?" She asked, menacingly.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." Tenchi sheepishly said, scratching the back of his head as Aeka pumped more tokens into the machine.
"Let's go, pirate!" She exclaimed as she and Ryouko laughed together.
* * *
After 17 matches, Tenchi had finally succeeded in pulling Ryouko and Aeka out of the arcade. Ryouko wore a defeated expression on her face, where Aeka had a look of triumph on her own. At first, Tenchi had been very worried for Aeka, but once she and Ryouko began to play, Aeka began to relax and warm up to interacting with Ryouko. The two seemed like they really did have a good time, even if Ryouko didn't win a single match.
Spotting a large tent off to the side of the alleyway, Tenchi exclaimed, "How about bumper cars? I haven't done that since I was a kid!"
"What are bumper cars, Lord Tenchi?" Aeka asked.
"Well, they are little electric cars that you drive, and the object is to hit other people." Tenchi explained.
"That sounds horrible!" Aeka insisted.
"Well, you don't go very fast, see? Watch those people at it." Tenchi said as the three friends stood by the side of the tent, watching the people in the miniature cars hit each other and drive away, only to repeat the act again. "The cars are made out of rubber to protect you from a real impact."
"You can run into anyone you want? Now this is my kinda game!" Ryouko said, a twinkle in her eye.
"Ryouko, take it easy now." Tenchi scolded her, elbowing her in the side gently.
Ryouko smiled mischievously and led them to the entrance. Not looking where she was going, she ran into a tall wall of pink hair. "Hey, watch where you're goin'!" She cried, rubbing her eyes.
The woman before her turned around, standing as tall as Ryouko, she looked right into her eyes. "Excuse me?" She asked.
"Washu!" Tenchi and Aeka exclaimed seeing the adult version of the scientist.
"Mom!" Ryouko choked. "What are you doing...like that?" She asked.
"Well, I can't exactly pick up any men looking like a twelve year old now can I, little Ryouko?" She asked, holding a hand to her chest dramatically, stepping to the side so Sasami could see too.
"What?!" Ryouko asked, shocked. "You're trying to pick some guy up?!"
Washu flashed the victory sign at her daughter and Tenchi and Aeka chuckled at Ryouko's reaction.
"Hey, you're holding up the line, let's go get into our bumper cars!" A voice behind Aeka called out. Everyone turned to look, to see Mihoshi and Kiyone standing behind them. The whole gang was there to play together.
Everyone ran to secure themselves a car. Fastening seatbelts, they all looked around to find each other. Even Ryo-ohki, still in her toddler form was behind her own wheel in a car near Sasami. Ryouko had her foot perched above the gas, ready to lay down her lead foot. The lights came on above them and one beep sounded. Then two. Then the third beep sounded and they were off!
"What am I supposed to do again? Mihoshi asked as Kiyone's car suddenly jerked forward and rear-ended her. Mihoshi started crying.
"You're supposed to run into each other!" Kiyone shouted, trying to explain.
Ryouko's car jolted to life as it lurched forward toward Tenchi's. He dodged just in time and Ryouko slammed into the wall. About to back her car up, she suddenly saw Ryo-ohki careening straight at her and the next thing she knew, Ryo-ohki had jammed her into the corner. "Nice aim, Ryo-ohki!" Washu's mature adult voice yelled out, laughing.
Suddenly, Aeka came from behind and slammed into the back of Washu, pushing her forward into Sasami, who giggled and whipped her car around, stepping on the gas to t-bone Aeka. Aeka was laughing so hard she could barely steer through the tears in her eyes as she floored the gas pedal and aimed straight for Tenchi, hitting the left side of his car. The next thing Tenchi knew, Ryouko had hit the right side of the car, and then Sasami came from the front and rammed her car into his.
Washu floored her car and t-boned Aeka as Ryo-ohki came out of nowhere and hit Tenchi's car from behind. Kiyone saw the pile up and dove her car into the mess too, hitting Ryouko at an angle, pushing everyone to the left. They were all laughing too hard to concentrate, everyone stepping on their gas pedals at the same time, causing them only to scoot each other around while staying in the same position.
Suddenly everyone looked up at the same time. A loud crying could be heard, and sure enough, there was Mihoshi, coming straight at them from the other end of the track, going at full speed. "Slow down Mihoshi!" Sasami cried out.
"But I can't control this thing!" Mihoshi called out through her tears right before colliding with Ryo-ohki, pushing her out of the way, hitting Tenchi as his car got thrown sideways, running into Sasami as her car jolted backwards and the whole group got split up.
"Everyone, get Mihoshi!" Washu called out. Spinning their cars to face Mihoshi, they all stepped on their gas pedals. Mihoshi cried out and pushed her pedal down too, picking her speed back up and dodging the other drivers in front of her.
"I didn't mean it!" She cried, half laughing and half crying as her friends chased her around the track, slowly gaining on her. Mihoshi looked behind her and saw her six friends behind her, so close to her, they were almost on top of her. Suddenly, everyone closed in on her. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the impact when suddenly the power was cut off and all the cars came to an abrupt stop.
"Time is up." Called the announcer.
Mihoshi opened her eyes to see all of her friends around her, their cars inches away from hers, the drivers laughing, huge smiles on their faces. She smiled back at them, glad to see everyone so happy.
* * *
"Isn't it beautiful?" Ryouko asked.
Tenchi, gazing at his girlfriend snuggled next to him, said, "Yes it is."
"I was talking about the sunset, silly." Ryouko said, chuckling.
After bumper cars, everyone had split up to go their separate ways again and Tenchi and Ryouko had gotten a chance to sneak off together. They sat next to each other in the car of the ferris wheel, it's leisurely pace spinning them slowly. They picked up altitude, rising up over the festival, the lights of the surrounding city far below their feet. The pinks and oranges of the setting sun had dipped below the horizon, bowing to the blues and purples of night. On the opposite end of the horizon, the dual moons of Umano began their slow trek through the night sky.
"Can you believe our vacation is almost halfway over?" Tenchi asked.
Ryouko shook her head. "I don't ever want it to end."
Tenchi smiled, agreeing. "You know, we really ought to go horseback riding again before we leave."
"Well, actually, I have a neat idea." Ryouko said. "Remember when we were at the stables, and they mentioned that you could take horses out and ride all day and spend the night in a cabin before riding back? I was kinda thinking that might be fun."
Tenchi pondered the idea, wishing he had thought of it himself.
"But if you don't-" Ryouko began.
He hushed her by putting a finger to her lips. "It sounds great. Why don't we call the stables and make a reservation soon?"
"Really Tenchi?" Ryouko asked.
He nodded, smiling, aware that it was getting easier to fight his instinct to keep his distance from the once wild space pirate sitting next to him. 'How could I have ever been scared of her?' He asked himself.
Suddenly remembering the gift he had gotten her, Tenchi reached a hand into his yukata and swallowed hard, trying to gather the nerve to present it to her. 'What am I getting all nervous for? It's just a piece of jewelry.' He told himself. 'I just hope she likes it!'
"R…Ryouko?' He asked.
Ryouko picked her head up from Tenchi's shoulder. "Yeah?"
"I wanted to give this to you." He said, pulling the long box wrapped in light blue paper from his yukata and placing it in her hand.
She looked at the box in her palm. "For me? What is it?" She asked curiously.
"Open it and see." Tenchi said warmly as she delicately slid a fingernail under a piece of tape and pulled the paper off. He smiled. He could almost feel her anticipation as she opened the hinged box.
Ryouko gasped as the moonlight glinted off the platinum chain and sent myriads of color reflecting from the diamond chips imbedded in the pendant. "Tenchi, it's…it's the same one that I was looking at!" She said breathlessly.
"I'm glad you like it." He whispered softly, his heart warmed. It was as if he could feel her happiness spilling over into him. After she was done examining the necklace, Tenchi reached out and gently took it from her. "Let me help you put it on."
She turned her head from him slightly and lifted her hair off her neck. Tenchi reached his hands around to rest the chain on her collarbone, brushing his fingers against the soft skin on her neck before securing the clasp behind her.
"How does it look?" She asked sheepishly.
"Perfect. It looks perfect." He answered, drawing her body into his for a heated kiss as the ferris wheel turned the lovers around and around in the night sky above the city lights. With half their vacation left, the lovers still had a lot left to do.
* * *
End chapter six
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 Six: Wings of Love
Ryouko ran as if her life depended on it. She didn't know where she was going or what direction she was going in as she randomly picked the garden paths. The only thing she could think of was to get away. Blue streaks dotted the green landscape that she could only barely see in her tear soaked vision as she ran.
She stopped to catch her breath, leaning against a tree. Running was hard work when she was so used to flying or phasing to her destinations, but that was the furthest thing on her mind. Tenchi and Aeka. The scene played over and over again before her eyes. Their embrace, his hands on her back, the way they looked into each other's eyes, the kiss they shared. Tenchi had finally made his choice.
'It was obvious all along.' She thought to herself. 'He never should have released me from my cave. I bet he wished he never did at all. After all, I've been nothing but a burden.' She turned her red eyes to the night sky, tears still flowing down her face, wetting her pink blouse, a blouse that Tenchi had bought for her.
She looked at the dim lights of the stars, twinkles of hope far, far away. 'If I return to the stars,' She reasoned, 'then Tenchi and Aeka wouldn't have to deal with me anymore. I'm sure they'd prefer that. I could be a pirate again, go back to being a monster. After all, it's what I do best. Or maybe I'll go back to Earth and seal myself back in that cave, where Tenchi should have just left me.'
She stood back up, fists clenched, determined to get as far away as possible. She flexed her telepathy muscle in the back of her mind to call Ryo-ohki to her. She waited for several minutes until she remembered that her sister wouldn't be able to hear her. Giving up, she collapsed to the ground sobbing.
* * *
Tenchi skidded to a stop, breathing heavily. He had come to a crossroads in the path. 'Which way did she go, left or right?' He asked himself. With no clues to go by, he chose the path to the right, the one lined with blue hydrangeas like those that surrounded his house back on Earth.
'I hope I'm not too late.' He desperately hoped, knowing that if he didn't find Ryouko in the next few minutes that he wasn't likely to find her until she decided to show herself again. A nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind. 'I hope she doesn't do anything drastic. Why does she always try to act so tough? I know she's more vulnerable than she lets on.' He was sprinting as fast as his legs would take him, extending his legs as far as they would reach, pumping his arms, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Finally he found her, and what he saw tore him apart. She was kneeling on the stone walkway, her back to him, hands hanging limply at her sides. He could hear her sobs from where he stood. His heart demanded he act, but he was afraid. So afraid.
"Ryouko." He said, almost breathlessly.
His voice startled her, and she scrambled to her feet, turning to face Tenchi. What he saw broke his heart again. Her normal casual, assertive self turned into the image of this broken soul that weakly stood before him. It wasn't the Ryouko he knew and it was his fault.
Tenchi took a step forward…
…and Ryouko took a step back, the moonlight reflecting in her tears.
"You don't need to tell me Tenchi. I already saw it." Ryouko sobbed, her shoulders shaking.
Tenchi was frozen, his mind screamed for him to say something, but he couldn't form the words.
"Tenchi, send me back to the cave." Ryouko begged.
"Wha-" was all Tenchi would muster.
"I'll just be in the way if I'm still around, right? I know you must regret freeing me anyway." She sobbed.
Tenchi's eyes started to water. He couldn't believe what he was hearing her say. 'Say something damnit!' He cursed at himself.
"Or I can go back to the stars." Ryouko offered. "I won't even take Ryo-ohki away from Sasami. I'll just leave!"
Tenchi snapped. Something deep inside of him unlocked as the last conflict between his heart and his mind shattered. He stepped out towards Ryouko and reached for her, grabbing her by the shoulders as she tried to step away from him. Her amber eyes called out to his very heart, and in those windows to her soul, he saw the infinite sadness that he had caused her, and he saw her need to be loved by him.
He drew Ryouko into himself and embraced her, hugging her to his body as tightly as he could. Ryouko began to struggle until she felt a wet drop fall on her temple. She realized that Tenchi was crying.
Tenchi leaned his head down, his lips next to her ear. "Please Ryouko, don't leave me." He said, his voice breaking.
Ryouko froze in his embrace, confused as Tenchi continued. "You've got it all wrong Ryouko. I've never regretted releasing you, I've never wished for you to go back to that prison, and if you ever left me…I don't know what I would do without you. Ryouko, you misinterpreted what you saw. Miss Aeka kissed me, I did not kiss her."
Ryouko's sobs came to a sudden halt, she tipped her head up to look into Tenchi's eyes. He faltered, but pushed on. "Ryouko, I had just told Miss Aeka that I could not return her feelings for her the way she wanted me to."
Ryouko's expression turned from one of devastation to one of hope.
Tenchi struggled. He didn't trust his voice to work properly. He wanted to tell her everything, express so many things, yet he could not get the words to come out. Instead, he placed his palms to Ryouko's face, cupping her cheeks. She let out a shaky gasp as he began to lean forward.
She barely had to time to realize that all her hopes and dreams were coming to pass in a dizzying rush. That this single moment in her long, painful life was what she had been waiting for since the nameless tree had granted her the vision of her future.
The future was now as Tenchi's lips softly met her own. Their tender kiss expressed unparalled emotions. Ryouko's body was shaking again, only this time it was out of joy. Their bodies and souls became that kiss under the moonlit night, surrounded by the hydrangeas.
When their kiss ended, they tipped their heads to look into each other's eyes. The sight of Ryouko's face filled Tenchi with a warmth he couldn't describe. He could feel her love for him, he could feel her happiness, her adoration.
"I love you, Ryouko." He whispered breathlessly, emotionally.
Ryouko's tears were those of happiness as she smiled an angelic smile. "I love you too, Tenchi." She whispered back.
Tenchi shed another tear as he pulled her in to another, more passionate kiss, pressing his lips against hers. Ryouko's body surrendered to the kiss, her body going limp against his. She suddenly realized she was physically and emotionally exhausted.
Sensing Ryouko's exhaustion, Tenchi led her to a bench and helped her to sit. He then sat as close to her as he could, Ryouko nestling her head on his shoulder, their bodies pressed next to teach other as they settled into a comfortable silence.
Tenchi looked down at the ground and saw a cluster of small dainty plants with green hard leaves. A stem emerged from the leaves and from it hung dainty pure white blooms. 'You were wrong Aeka.' He realized. 'Yellow tulips don't stand for true love, they stand for hopeless love.' Looking back down at the flowers by his feet, he realized. 'Lily of the Valley is the flower that stands for love, faithful and everlasting.'
Tenchi hugged Ryouko close to him, she made sniffing noises as the remnants of her tears finished their course. She had been waiting to hear those three words for so long, and now he was finally hers. "Tenchi?" She asked.
"Hmm?" He replied, his breath in her ear.
"Does this mean that were… you know…" She trailed off.
"Boyfriend and girlfriend?" He finished for her.
She nodded her head.
"Well…" Tenchi began, a silly expression on his face. "I was kinda hoping after all this, that yes." He teased her, squeezing her tight, relishing in the feel of having her so close to him, finally realizing that he had wanted this for so long.
"So then, you really are mine?" She asked, looking up at him."
Smiling, he tipped his head down to return her gaze. "All yours, as you are all mine." He said, giving her a brief kiss.
Ryouko's expression saddened. "Tenchi, what about…what about Aeka?" She asked hesitantly.
Rubbing her shoulder, he replied, "She told me to go after you."
"She what?" Ryouko asked in disbelief.
"I was surprised too. It…it wasn't easy for her. I know that. She was very upset." Tenchi began.
Ryouko noticed the hurt in Tenchi's eyes. "Tenchi, I'm sorry. I know it must have been hard for you too, to make that choice."
"Ryouko, it wasn't the choice that was hard to make. I knew all along what I wanted." Tenchi said, planting a kiss on Ryouko's forehead. "It was only finally hurting Aeka that was so difficult. But she said she understood. When she kissed me so suddenly, and you saw us, she was devastated. She did not want you to misunderstand her actions, although I understand why you did."
"I wonder if she'll be okay." Ryouko pondered.
Tenchi looked off to the sky. "I think she'll be just fine. Aeka is a strong woman, Ryouko."
Ryouko nodded, agreeing. They sat there in the calmness of the night. The Jurian Fireflies using the light of their bodies as beacons to call to each other. The gentle glow of the moons and the lamps washed down on the gardens and on the new couple sitting together on the bench, lost in the sudden but welcome change in their lives.
* * *
"Ryouko? Ryouko? Wake up." Tenchi's quiet voice whispered into her ear.
A little dazed, Ryouko blinked. Realizing she must have fallen asleep on Tenchi's shoulder, she looked up, seeing Tenchi's smiling face looking down at her. 'She's cute when she's tired.' He thought to himself. "Come on, you're exhausted. You've had a rough few days." Tenchi said, supporting his new girlfriend by her upper body before standing and helping her rise.
"I guess I'm more tired than I realized." She admitted, leaning on Tenchi for support as he led her through the garden. "It's only because I don't have my powers right now." She added.
Tenchi chuckled. 'Always trying to be the tough guy. She needs to learn to let herself depend on others for a change.' He thought to himself on their way back to the hotel.
* * *
The Crown Princess received a few sideways glances as she walked through the lobby. Her hair was disheveled, her robes wrinkled, and she had a stagger to her step. She was mentally exhausted, having just lost a battle that she had been fighting for the past three years of her life. She was physically tired as well. Her body had been tense while she went through so many emotions. Her muscles ached, her eyes burned, and she had a pounding headache.
Turning the corner, she froze, her weary muscles screaming at her for the sudden jarring. Standing in front of the elevator, she saw Tenchi. His arms were protectively wrapped around and supporting Ryouko, who Aeka noticed, looked even worse for wear than she herself felt, save for a slight blissful smile that Ryouko wore.
Sliding back behind the corner, Aeka tore her gaze from the sight. Her first instinct was to storm the two of them, yell at the lecherous space pirate for hanging on Lord Tenchi, throw some insults and initiate a fight. But she made herself stop, reminding herself that she had told Tenchi to follow his heart and go to Ryouko, and she had meant it. However, that did not diminish her feelings for the Crown Prince any less. She knew she wasn't ready to see the two of them together yet.
'In time,' Aeka pondered, 'I shall deal with this. But as of now, I do not think I could face that sort of scene. Neither do I wish to see any looks of pity upon their faces. Ryouko may have won Lord Tenchi, but I will retain my pride.'
Aeka waited for the new couple to be taken away in the elevator before proceeding past the elevator and to her room where she collapsed on her bed, crying into her pillow. There, on her stomach in the disheveled robe she had worn out that night, the Princess fell into a dreamless sleep.
* * *
"Come on Ryouko, just a little more." Tenchi urged her on, only feet from her door. She rummaged in her pocket and pulled out her room card. She missed the slot in the door on the first try. It took Tenchi steadying her hand to get the card in before the door unlocked.
"Why don't you go put on some pajamas while I get your bed ready for you Ryouko? Tenchi offered.
Ryouko nodded and went over to her dresser and pulled out her pajamas. She then began unbuttoning her blouse. Stopping halfway down her shirt, she paused, and remembering he was with her, looked at Tenchi.
His face was a dark shade of red, and he was scratching the back of his head. He quickly turned around. Ryouko sighed to herself. 'Even now, Tenchi is still Tenchi.' She chuckled to herself. 'Even still, he is my Tenchi.'
She picked up her pajamas. "You can turn around, I'll go into the bathroom to change."
He looked at her with greatful eyes and began to turn her bed down for her.
She came out of the bathroom shortly after, feeling refreshed after washing her face and changing. She wore a pair of short brown and blue boxers and a fitted black tank top. She noticed Tenchi trying not to admire her long legs as he helped her climb into bed. Once she was settled, he drew the comforter up to her neck, tucking her in.
"Please tell me this isn't a dream, Tenchi." Ryouko asked.
"What do you mean?" Tenchi asked, confused.
"It's just that this was all so sudden, so wonderful, it's like a dream. I'm afraid I'll wake up and it won't be real. I don't know what I'd do if that happened." Ryouko explained.
Tenchi knelt down on the floor next to Ryouko, running his hand through her hair, pausing for only a second to realize that despite how spiky it appeared, how amazingly soft it was. "It's not a dream, I love you Ryouko." He said
"Then stay here with me tonight." Ryouko asked him.
Tenchi began to stammer.
"You don't want to?" Ryouko asked, hurt.
He sighed. "I…I do want to, but I just don't know if it's right."
"I don't care what's right or wrong, Please don't leave me Tenchi." She begged him.
Tenchi's war with his emotions ended when he looked into her eyes and saw her need for him to stay. "O…okay. I'll stay here next to you." He agreed.
Ryouko rolled onto her right side, her left leg and arm at an angle to rest on the bed. Tenchi cupped the side of her face and gave her a kiss on the lips. When she didn't respond to his kiss, Tenchi realized she had already fallen fast asleep.
He smiled down at her. "I love you." He whispered in her ear.
Walking back to the other side of the bed, Tenchi stopped and looked at her dresser. Standing on top, resting against the wall was Ryouko's crayon horse drawing. He smiled warmly, glad that she had decided to embrace her newfound memories.
Standing by the bed, Tenchi resisted the urge to crawl under the covers to lie next to her. Instead, he climbed on top of the comforter and curled up next to Ryouko's sleeping form, his left arm protectively over top of her. Before he could stop to contemplate the night's events, he too had fallen asleep.
* * *
In the next room, Washu smiled to herself. She had heard the two quietly muffled voices in the hallway enter her daughter's room, and so far she had heard no one come out.
'I'm so happy for you Ryouko.' She thought to herself. 'So happy.'
* * *
Ryouko squinted, the morning sunlight coming in through the windows. 'I've got to remember to pull those damn curtains closed at night.' She scolded herself. Rolling onto her back, she felt a weight across her chest. Looking to her right, she saw Tenchi's sleeping face.
Her heart warmed as she suddenly remembered what had happened the night before. "It wasn't a dream after all.' She realized. Closing her eyes, she relished in the feel of their closeness despite the large size of the bed. 'Heaven. It really is like heaven.' She thought happily. Although she still found it amazing that Tenchi had chosen her, that he had the courage to tell her how he felt and that he was actually enjoying being so close to her. She realized that Tenchi really was different than the child she had watched grow up outside her cave, and different still from the boy she had met after he had freed her from her cave.
Turning on her left side to face Tenchi, she sighed to herself, realizing he had slept outside the covers. 'Of course, there are still some things that he's not comfortable with yet.' She pondered their relationship, realizing that she and Tenchi had known each other ever since he was a child. Although it was only her astral form he could see, and she could not speak to him, the two had played with each other for years. On top of that, she had been living in his home for almost three years now. It was only natural that the two of them be physically close now that they were actually dating.
Although she knew it wouldn't be easy, Ryouko decided, 'I won't push him into anything. I want him to be ready for whatever we do.' She snaked an arm out of the comforter and ran her fingers through Tenchi's long bangs.
Tenchi slowly stirred, blinking his eyes twice. His first reflex at seeing Ryouko upon waking up was to yell and flee, but his memories of the night before overrode that instinct. As he looked at his girlfriend with her head on her pillow, her bangs brushed back from her forehead and her body buried in a sea of blankets, all he could do was smile and shut his eyes, lost in her gentle touch.
Ryouko smiled to herself, pleased to see Tenchi so relaxed and happy. She leaned forward to give him a light kiss on the lips. "Good morning, my Tenchi." She purred softly.
"I'd have to say I really like waking up like this." Tenchi coyly said, hugging Ryouko close to him and kissing her back deeply. He surprised Ryouko when his tongue entered her mouth. Letting him lead the way, she frenched him in return as they explored their deepened kiss.
Suddenly a knock sounded at the door. Tenchi and Ryouko froze as Sasami's cheerful voice called out, "Ryouko, wake up! I've personally cooked breakfast this morning, and I'd like everyone to eat together, so come downstairs soon, okay?"
Ryouko pulled her lips from Tenchi's. "Okay Sasami, we…uh…I'll be right down!" She exclaimed.
They laid there frozen, still staring at each other until they heard Sasami knock on the next door as she began to wake up the others. Ryouko began to chuckle and soon the couple was laughing together at the interruption.
Ryouko got out of bed and stretched, relishing in the feel of Tenchi admiring her body. "Shall we get ready for breakfast?" She suggested.
Reluctant to leave the warmth of the bed, Tenchi rolled off, his clothes he had worn the night before a wrinkled mess. "Guess I'll head back to my room to change." He said sheepishly as he headed for the door.
Turning the knob, he looked back at Ryouko. "I love you." He said.
Ryouko smiled warmly at him. "I love you too. Now go get ready!"
Opening the door and stepping into the hallway, Tenchi froze as Mihoshi suddenly staggered out of Kiyone's room. Eyes half shut, she walked across the hall and walked into the door to her room before stepping back and opening it first before going in.
'Guess she didn't see me.' Tenchi thought to himself before returning to his room.
* * *
Downstairs in the ballroom, Sasami was bringing the last of the dishes out from the kitchen and setting them on the table. Washu, Ryo-ohki in toddler form, Mihoshi and Kiyone all sat around the table as Tenchi and Ryouko came in together.
"Sasami, it smells so good in here! We haven't had your cooking in days!" Ryouko exclaimed.
She blushed slightly. "I missed cooking for everyone, and I really had to argue with the kitchen staff to let me cook for us, so you all better eat up!"
"Where is your sister, Sasami?" Kiyone asked.
Tenchi and Ryouko shared a look as Sasami explained. "Oh, she said she wasn't feeling well this morning, and she'd be a little late. By the way, did everyone have a good time last night?"
"The Miho-Kiyo team got high scores in all the karaoke bars last night!" Mihoshi replied.
Kiyone nodded, for once not snapping at Mihoshi. ""We really did put on a couple of good shows, you guys should have been there."
Mihoshi giggled innocently. "Tenchi and Ryouko must have had a good time last night too, I saw you come out of Ryouko's room this morning in the clothes you wore out last night, Tenchi."
'Leave it to Mihoshi to make such an observation.' Tenchi mused as he began to stammer and Ryouko turned red.
"That's right Mihoshi." Washu said, nodding. "I heard them go into Ryouko's room last night and no one left until this morning."
Sasami gasped. "That must mean that…"
"It just means that I fell asleep in Ryouko's room." Tenchi interrupted, his face bright red. He could feel Ryouko's confusion and fears at his statement, but he wasn't done yet. He took hold of Ryouko's hand. "I um...want you all to know that Ryouko and I are now dating." He said, somewhat sheepishly.
"Tenchi and Ryouko are boyfriend and girlfriend now?" Sasami exclaimed.
Just then, Aeka stepped into the room. "Sorry to keep you all waiting." She said regally, the smallest of smiles on her face as she struggled to appear strong.
Truth be told, Aeka did not want to come to breakfast at all. She had forced herself to, reasoning that she would have to deal with the situation eventually, and she did not want Tenchi or Ryouko to worry about her. Never once did she make eye contact with the couple as she forced herself to take her usual spot beside Tenchi.
"Aeka-onechan, did you know that Tenchi and Ryouko are dating now? Sasami cheerfully asked. "I always knew they'd make the perfect couple!"
Tenchi and Ryouko sweatdropped, not knowing how Aeka would take her sister's words. They could sense her sadness, feel her frustration, but the words had already been said and there was nothing they could do.
"Yes, Sasami, I…I already knew." Aeka said quietly.
It was then that Aeka realized that she really hadn't stood a chance. That if Sasami could feel that Tenchi and Ryouko were meant to be together, perhaps it was part of Tsunami's greater plan. 'Perhaps. Perhaps this was meant to be.' She pondered.
Washu looked at her blushing daughter and her new boyfriend, feeling happy and proud. Deciding not to give them any more trouble, she exclaimed, "Let's eat, everyone!"
* * *
Tenchi strolled through the shopping areas, looking for a particular store. Tonight, everyone had decided to go out together. Apparently there was a festival tonight, in celebration of a summer solstice, similar to the Bon Odori Festivals held during the summer in Japan. Umano had surprised Tenchi with its similarity to his planet, and more precisely his country. It gave him a feel of how much influence Empress Funaho had over the Jurian empire.
Getting the chance to leave the hotel without Ryouko tagging along had been less difficult than he had feared. She was still feeling a bit exhausted, and he had urged her to take a nap for this very purpose of going out without her.
Finally recognizing what he was looking for, he entered the store where Ryouko had bought his vest. He looked around, finding the jewelry counter that Ryouko had taken interest in. Looking at all the choices before him, he tried to pick out what had caught Ryouko's eye. There were so many choices that lay before him. Thick gold bracelets inlaid with precious stones. 'Thats not her style.' Tenchi guessed. 'I can't see her wearing gold.' Huge silver and gold rings with monumental rocks set into them. 'Too big, too loud. Ryouko can be pretty flashy, but thats not her style either.' He reasoned.
Eventually, Tenchi found the piece that he figured suited Ryouko best. It was different from all the other pieces in the collection. It wasn't too flashy, nor too simple. It was a platinum necklace that had small chips of diamonds that shone like the stars in the night's sky. 'That has to be it.' He realized as he asked an attendant to get it for him.
Tenchi ran all the way back to the hotel, a broad smile on his face as he tried to imagine the best way to give Ryouko her first present later that night.
* * *
The transport vehicle cruised along the road carrying the Princesses and their company to the city park for the festival. Similar to Japan, most people wore yukata to the festival, long, airy robes with wide, short sleeves. Sasami had chosen a light green color yukata with a design of white rabbits and Aeka had chosen one with a light blue shade and a decor of white fans. Kiyone and Mihoshi's yukatas had a similar design of checks in tan and blue, respectively. Washu had chosen a dark green yukata with white cranes and Ryo-ohki in toddler form wore a yellow yukata with a carrot design. Ryouko wore a lavender yukata with a decor of white fireflies and Tenchi's yukata was dark blue with a white bamboo leaf design.
Finally arriving at their destination, Tenchi hopped out of the vehicle and helped everyone out as the long robes made if difficult to step down in. Aeka blushed slightly as Tenchi held her hand. Ryouko looked on wearily. Although she could understand why, the three of them still had not talked since the day before. Ryouko was glad that Aeka was taking things as well as she was. 'Tenchi was right, she really is strong.' She realized. She hoped that they could do something to lighten Aeka's mood.
Everyone looked around them at the long row of stalls that lined the road and the large number of rides that were placed around the park. There were the usual game and food booths set up in the long aisle, and there were rides and attractions like a carousel, a ferris wheel, bumper cars and a haunted house. Sasami gasped as she looked at all the things there were to do.
Tenchi looked at each of the girls as they examined their surroundings. 'So many things are different, and yet, they are still the same.' He inwardly mused. It had been only less than a day since he had confessed his love to Ryouko and they became a couple. He had worried about the impact he would cause to the rest of his friends that were really family, but as far as he could tell, they were all treating the situation as if it were normal, or even expected.
He glanced at Aeka, the one exception. Although he knew she was trying to be strong, he could feel that she was still deeply hurt, and his heart was sad for her. Tenchi hoped that he and the rest of his and Aeka's shared family would be able to ease her through her hard times.
"Lets go catch goldfish!" Sasami suddenly exclaimed, pulling Washu and Ryo-ohki with her into a stall down the aisle.
"Ohhh, Kiyone look, a karaoke booth, let's go over there!" Mihoshi said dreamily as she tugged on Kiyone's sleeve, dragging her in the other direction.
Tenchi, Ryouko and Aeka stood in the middle of the walkway, other festival goers walking around them. No one knew what to say, what to do. The air was awkward. Aeka wanted to just run away, the pain was great and she felt like the proverbial third wheel. Tenchi and Ryouko were unsure of how to act, and no one wanted to make the first move. Looking around at all the options, Ryouko finally got an idea.
"Come on, Princess, let's hit the arcade!" She exclaimed, grabbing Aeka by her yukata and pulling her off towards the large stall that was set up as an arcade. Tenchi walked behind them, unsure of where things were leading, and praying that wherever it led, things went well.
* * *
"You are going down, Ryouko!" Aeka exclaimed, a wicked expression on her face.
"Oh yeah? Take that, princess, and that!" Ryouko retorted, her face scrunched in concentration.
"Girls, please, take it easy!" Tenchi raised his voice to be heard over them and the furious tapping sounds as Ryouko and Aeka battled each other at a fighting game in the arcade.
Ryouko slammed a combination of buttons and spun the joystick, her legs spread apart underneath her as she hunkered her body down at the machine as if she could dodge and weave the attacks delt by Aeka's character herself. The machine suddenly uttered a loud noise, and a bright sign began flashing that said, "Winner!" that was displayed over Aeka's side of the machine.
"That was so unfair Aeka. You chose the cheesiest character!" Ryouko whined.
"Ha! It is all about skill Ryouko, and I won that match fair and square." Aeka stated, crossing her arms over his chest.
Ryouko stuck her tongue out at Aeka and reached a finger to her eye, showing the skin under her eyeball. "Cheese!" She stated.
"Fine then! One more match!" Aeka persisted, throwing her fist in the air.
"Let's go!" Ryouko said, taking the challenge.
"But Ryouko, this is your twelfth match and you still haven't won one yet!" Tenchi complained.
Ryouko turned her head sharply to look at Tenchi out of slitted eyes. "What did you say?" She asked, menacingly.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." Tenchi sheepishly said, scratching the back of his head as Aeka pumped more tokens into the machine.
"Let's go, pirate!" She exclaimed as she and Ryouko laughed together.
* * *
After 17 matches, Tenchi had finally succeeded in pulling Ryouko and Aeka out of the arcade. Ryouko wore a defeated expression on her face, where Aeka had a look of triumph on her own. At first, Tenchi had been very worried for Aeka, but once she and Ryouko began to play, Aeka began to relax and warm up to interacting with Ryouko. The two seemed like they really did have a good time, even if Ryouko didn't win a single match.
Spotting a large tent off to the side of the alleyway, Tenchi exclaimed, "How about bumper cars? I haven't done that since I was a kid!"
"What are bumper cars, Lord Tenchi?" Aeka asked.
"Well, they are little electric cars that you drive, and the object is to hit other people." Tenchi explained.
"That sounds horrible!" Aeka insisted.
"Well, you don't go very fast, see? Watch those people at it." Tenchi said as the three friends stood by the side of the tent, watching the people in the miniature cars hit each other and drive away, only to repeat the act again. "The cars are made out of rubber to protect you from a real impact."
"You can run into anyone you want? Now this is my kinda game!" Ryouko said, a twinkle in her eye.
"Ryouko, take it easy now." Tenchi scolded her, elbowing her in the side gently.
Ryouko smiled mischievously and led them to the entrance. Not looking where she was going, she ran into a tall wall of pink hair. "Hey, watch where you're goin'!" She cried, rubbing her eyes.
The woman before her turned around, standing as tall as Ryouko, she looked right into her eyes. "Excuse me?" She asked.
"Washu!" Tenchi and Aeka exclaimed seeing the adult version of the scientist.
"Mom!" Ryouko choked. "What are you doing...like that?" She asked.
"Well, I can't exactly pick up any men looking like a twelve year old now can I, little Ryouko?" She asked, holding a hand to her chest dramatically, stepping to the side so Sasami could see too.
"What?!" Ryouko asked, shocked. "You're trying to pick some guy up?!"
Washu flashed the victory sign at her daughter and Tenchi and Aeka chuckled at Ryouko's reaction.
"Hey, you're holding up the line, let's go get into our bumper cars!" A voice behind Aeka called out. Everyone turned to look, to see Mihoshi and Kiyone standing behind them. The whole gang was there to play together.
Everyone ran to secure themselves a car. Fastening seatbelts, they all looked around to find each other. Even Ryo-ohki, still in her toddler form was behind her own wheel in a car near Sasami. Ryouko had her foot perched above the gas, ready to lay down her lead foot. The lights came on above them and one beep sounded. Then two. Then the third beep sounded and they were off!
"What am I supposed to do again? Mihoshi asked as Kiyone's car suddenly jerked forward and rear-ended her. Mihoshi started crying.
"You're supposed to run into each other!" Kiyone shouted, trying to explain.
Ryouko's car jolted to life as it lurched forward toward Tenchi's. He dodged just in time and Ryouko slammed into the wall. About to back her car up, she suddenly saw Ryo-ohki careening straight at her and the next thing she knew, Ryo-ohki had jammed her into the corner. "Nice aim, Ryo-ohki!" Washu's mature adult voice yelled out, laughing.
Suddenly, Aeka came from behind and slammed into the back of Washu, pushing her forward into Sasami, who giggled and whipped her car around, stepping on the gas to t-bone Aeka. Aeka was laughing so hard she could barely steer through the tears in her eyes as she floored the gas pedal and aimed straight for Tenchi, hitting the left side of his car. The next thing Tenchi knew, Ryouko had hit the right side of the car, and then Sasami came from the front and rammed her car into his.
Washu floored her car and t-boned Aeka as Ryo-ohki came out of nowhere and hit Tenchi's car from behind. Kiyone saw the pile up and dove her car into the mess too, hitting Ryouko at an angle, pushing everyone to the left. They were all laughing too hard to concentrate, everyone stepping on their gas pedals at the same time, causing them only to scoot each other around while staying in the same position.
Suddenly everyone looked up at the same time. A loud crying could be heard, and sure enough, there was Mihoshi, coming straight at them from the other end of the track, going at full speed. "Slow down Mihoshi!" Sasami cried out.
"But I can't control this thing!" Mihoshi called out through her tears right before colliding with Ryo-ohki, pushing her out of the way, hitting Tenchi as his car got thrown sideways, running into Sasami as her car jolted backwards and the whole group got split up.
"Everyone, get Mihoshi!" Washu called out. Spinning their cars to face Mihoshi, they all stepped on their gas pedals. Mihoshi cried out and pushed her pedal down too, picking her speed back up and dodging the other drivers in front of her.
"I didn't mean it!" She cried, half laughing and half crying as her friends chased her around the track, slowly gaining on her. Mihoshi looked behind her and saw her six friends behind her, so close to her, they were almost on top of her. Suddenly, everyone closed in on her. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the impact when suddenly the power was cut off and all the cars came to an abrupt stop.
"Time is up." Called the announcer.
Mihoshi opened her eyes to see all of her friends around her, their cars inches away from hers, the drivers laughing, huge smiles on their faces. She smiled back at them, glad to see everyone so happy.
* * *
"Isn't it beautiful?" Ryouko asked.
Tenchi, gazing at his girlfriend snuggled next to him, said, "Yes it is."
"I was talking about the sunset, silly." Ryouko said, chuckling.
After bumper cars, everyone had split up to go their separate ways again and Tenchi and Ryouko had gotten a chance to sneak off together. They sat next to each other in the car of the ferris wheel, it's leisurely pace spinning them slowly. They picked up altitude, rising up over the festival, the lights of the surrounding city far below their feet. The pinks and oranges of the setting sun had dipped below the horizon, bowing to the blues and purples of night. On the opposite end of the horizon, the dual moons of Umano began their slow trek through the night sky.
"Can you believe our vacation is almost halfway over?" Tenchi asked.
Ryouko shook her head. "I don't ever want it to end."
Tenchi smiled, agreeing. "You know, we really ought to go horseback riding again before we leave."
"Well, actually, I have a neat idea." Ryouko said. "Remember when we were at the stables, and they mentioned that you could take horses out and ride all day and spend the night in a cabin before riding back? I was kinda thinking that might be fun."
Tenchi pondered the idea, wishing he had thought of it himself.
"But if you don't-" Ryouko began.
He hushed her by putting a finger to her lips. "It sounds great. Why don't we call the stables and make a reservation soon?"
"Really Tenchi?" Ryouko asked.
He nodded, smiling, aware that it was getting easier to fight his instinct to keep his distance from the once wild space pirate sitting next to him. 'How could I have ever been scared of her?' He asked himself.
Suddenly remembering the gift he had gotten her, Tenchi reached a hand into his yukata and swallowed hard, trying to gather the nerve to present it to her. 'What am I getting all nervous for? It's just a piece of jewelry.' He told himself. 'I just hope she likes it!'
"R…Ryouko?' He asked.
Ryouko picked her head up from Tenchi's shoulder. "Yeah?"
"I wanted to give this to you." He said, pulling the long box wrapped in light blue paper from his yukata and placing it in her hand.
She looked at the box in her palm. "For me? What is it?" She asked curiously.
"Open it and see." Tenchi said warmly as she delicately slid a fingernail under a piece of tape and pulled the paper off. He smiled. He could almost feel her anticipation as she opened the hinged box.
Ryouko gasped as the moonlight glinted off the platinum chain and sent myriads of color reflecting from the diamond chips imbedded in the pendant. "Tenchi, it's…it's the same one that I was looking at!" She said breathlessly.
"I'm glad you like it." He whispered softly, his heart warmed. It was as if he could feel her happiness spilling over into him. After she was done examining the necklace, Tenchi reached out and gently took it from her. "Let me help you put it on."
She turned her head from him slightly and lifted her hair off her neck. Tenchi reached his hands around to rest the chain on her collarbone, brushing his fingers against the soft skin on her neck before securing the clasp behind her.
"How does it look?" She asked sheepishly.
"Perfect. It looks perfect." He answered, drawing her body into his for a heated kiss as the ferris wheel turned the lovers around and around in the night sky above the city lights. With half their vacation left, the lovers still had a lot left to do.
* * *
End chapter six