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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 Seven: Wings of Discovery
"Aeka-oneechan, could you please grab me a towel?" Sasami's voice called to her sister from the poolside where she was splashing around with Washu, who was back in her child form, and Ryo-ohki in her toddler form.
Aeka nodded and rose from her pool chair, turning to the cabana where the towels were held. Parting the doors to the cabana, she suddenly froze. In the back of the cabana, Tenchi and Ryouko were leaning against a mountain of towels, locked in a passionate embrace. Aeka's stomach plumeted at the scene. She backed up, and quietly shut the doors to the cabana, her eyes downcast.
"Is there something wrong Aeka?" Sasami asked. Still waiting for her towel.
Aeka was momentarily caught off guard. "No Sasami...this cabana is just out of towels. I will go to that one over there." She said, her voice hiding a tremmor of emotion.
Aeka walked towards another cabana, attempting to dismiss the image from her mind. It had only been four days since Tenchi had confessed his love for Ryouko and the pain was still fresh. She had to admit that truly, she was happy for them. In her entire three years of knowing both Tenchi and Ryouko, neither one of them had ever seemed so happy. However, that did not make the situation any easier on her. She could not help but to still long to be the one that Tenchi had chosen. Aeka sighed as she opened the door the next cabana and pulled a towel off the shelf.
Bringing the towel back to Sasami, the little girl picked herself up out of the pool and dryed herself off. "Hey, where did Tenchi and Ryouko go, are they okay?" She asked.
"They are how should I say...indisposed at the moment. We shouldn't bother them." Aeka supplied, trying to fight down her blush.
"I don't think anything could bother them. Watch this." Washu said from the pool as she spotted Mihoshi and Kiyone approaching them. Washu pointed towards the cabana and yelled, "Look Mihoshi, the main character from Space Police Police Man is inside that cabana!"
"Really?" Mihoshi exclaimed, dropping her bag of tanning oils as she lunged for the door to the cabana, flinging it open. "Mister Space Police Police Man, are you in here?" She exclaimed loudly as she stepped in and examined the room.
Walking out and shutting the door behind her, she said, "I think you're mistaken Little Washu, its just Tenchi and Ryouko making out in there."
"Ewwww!" Sasami exclaimed as everyone face-faulted, save Washu who nodded smugly. "My mistake." She said casually.
A few minutes later, Tenchi and Ryouko stepped out of the cabana and walked to the poolside to join their family, Ryouko stretching her hands obliviously to the sky. "Sorry we're late." She said in a casual lie. "We were a little busy."
"Don't you mean getting busy?" Washu chided.
Tenchi and Ryouko turned red from embarrassment. A vein popped in Aeka's brow as she picked a bottle of sun tan lotion and hurled it at Washu.
"Kidding, kidding." Washu said sorely, rubbing her arm where the bottle had hit her. "Hey, aren't you two going on that overnight riding trip today?"
Tenchi nodded. "We just wanted to let you all know we were leaving now."
"I'm sure you two will have a great time. Can you give Devoto a carrot for me?" Sasami asked from the pool.
"Sure will, kiddo." Ryouko said cheerfully.
Washu lowered her voice so that only Tenchi and Ryouko could hear her. "You two be careful out there. We don't know if Masamitsu is likely to attack you again, Ryouko." Ryouko nodded, knowingly.
"Don't worry. I'll be with her, Little Washu." Tenchi said warmly.
Washu nodded. "I know. Thank you, Tenchi."
"Come on you guys, you're making me sound like I'm defenseless!" Ryouko whined.
Tenchi chuckled at his girlfriend and said, "Let's say our goodbyes and get going."
* * *
In the depths of space, against a backdrop of stars and black holes millions of light years away, an ethereal head hung in the blackness. "My lady, Aoyama Masamitsu of Umano approaches. I sense that he brings news." It's deep voice said.
"And how long have you been poisoning his mind?" A female voice asked.
"Longer than the time in which you require, my lady." Came the reply.
"Excellent." The woman said.
* * *
"Ryouko, will you stop fooling around and help me tack up the horses?" Tenchi asked, as Ryouko hung her arms around his neck, planting soft wet kisses along his collarbone. Dressed in the same outfits they had previously worn for riding, the two were supposed to be getting their horses ready.
"Pfft. Fine then." Ryouko replied, sticking her tongue out at Tenchi, who smiled at her before giving her a light slap on the rear as she walked out of the stall.
Ryouko placed her hand where he she had been slapped, a shocked expression on her face. "I'll remember that!" She exclaimed.
"Is that a threat, dear?" Tenchi asked as he tightened Cetero's girth.
"A promise. It's a promise, my Tenchi." She replied, smiling, as she picked up a saddle and returned to Carinna's stall.
After getting their horses tacked up by themselves, Nozomi and Kamui met Tenchi and Ryouko in the barn before they were to depart. Kamui carried two saddlebags full of their clothes, water and snacks draped over his shoulders and Nozomi held a rolled up paper under her arm.
"Here is the map showing you the directions to the cabin we've prepared for you." Nozomi explained as the unrolled the paper, tracing the route with her finger. "It'll take a good four hours of riding to get there. Once you arrive, you'll find everything you need is already prepared."
Kamui picked up where his wife left off, speaking to Tenchi and Ryouko as he secured a saddlebag to each horse's saddle. "The pasture and barn will be open, so when you arrive, just untack your horses and let them roam the pasture. The cabin is stocked with just about any kind of food you could want, enough for a couple of days worth should you decide to extend your stay."
Nozomi winked at Tenchi and Ryouko and slyly asked, "So, you aren't going to tell me that you two aren't a thing now, right?"
Tenchi scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "Actually, we are now." Ryouko said, a smile on her face.
"See, Kamui? I told you I know what I'm talking about. I know a good thing when I see it." Nozomi said, laying a light punch to her husband's shoulder.
Kamui chuckled and nodded his head. "Well, you're all set. Be careful, call for help if you need it, and above all, have a good time, you two!"
* * *
Aoyama Masamitsu piloted his spaceship towards unspecified coordinates. He knew not what they were, as they had been downloaded to his ship and this attempt, just like the others before them to figure them out had proven fruitless. He merely sat back in his chair and waited for the inevitable, anxious to meet with the ancient being.
Suddenly, the space around him shifted. He couldn't explain it, as there were no words to describe it, but Masamitsu suddenly found himself standing on a long pathway in the middle of space. Great oceans stretched on either side, creatures of mammoth proportions swimming in its depths. Coming to the end of the path, he simply stopped, as there was nothing he could do to call the being to him. So he waited.
Soon, before his eyes, an enormous ethereal shape of an old bearded face with gray hair came to view in front of the stars before him. Masamitsu bowed to this being. "D3, I bring you news."
The head cocked his eyebrow. "Continue."
Masamitsu calmed the butterflies in his stomach before he spoke. "The attacks on the demon Ryouko have been unsuccessful. My men were thwarted on the first attempt. We would have had her, but a young man by the name of Masaki Tenchi, a visitor from a planet called Earth intercepted, he was wielding a Jurian Key. I then sent androids to fight this man to analyze his sword data. What I found from the tests was unbelievable. There is a ninety nine percent assurance that his Key is the Tenchi-ken, the sword of the Crown Prince of Jurai."
D3 took in Masamitsu's explanation, a thoughtful look to his clouded eyes. "That does not explain why you have not brought the demon to our lady."
The prince faltered, fear rising from his belly. "Because that man protects the demon and I...I do not have the strength to fight the sword of the Crown Prince of the Jurian Empire."
The ethereal face of D3 faded away to nothingness and from the depths of space was replaced by an equally enormous vision of a beautiful woman. Her black pupils and blue eyes shone like the depths of a black hole. She had a design of a green leaf on either side of her cheek and two small, round circles were inset low upon her forehead. Locks of thick brown hair with orange accents framed her face and billowing strips of cloth surrounded her body. Masamitsu sensed her greatness and collapsed to one knee to bow in reverence.
"Would you desire the power to defeat the demon?" The cool voice of the vision spoke, leaving Masamitsu speechless as he averted his gaze. "I am the Goddess Tokimi, and I can grant you the power you require to defeat that sword and bring the demon to me."
"To...Tokimi-sama?" Masamitsu asked. His mind raced. As a Prince, he had been taught the ancient history of his planet, he had read the ancient scrolls, and he remembered the name of Tokimi. "The...the ancient Goddess of our planet?" He asked tentatively.
Tokimi smirked. "That is, until the Jurian empire replaced me with a false Goddess."
Masamitsu faltered, looking for the words. "Allow me to right my planet's wrongs, allow me to serve you, Lady Tokimi. Allow me to bring you the demon."
"Go. Bring her to me." She said smugly. "You shall be granted the power which you require."
* * *
The strong afternoon sun beat down on the horseback travelers as they followed the path that lay at the base of the mountains. Trees lined one side of the path, but afforded them no shade. Crickets and other insects buzzed loudly in the tall grasses that stretched on as far as the eye could see.
"My butt hurts." Ryouko whined, shifting in her saddle as she unbuttoned another button on her blouse to try to cool off.
Tenchi groaned. "Mine too. Well, we have been out for more than three hours, so I guess it's to be expected."
"Three hours?" Ryouko sighed, patting the broad shoulder of Carinna as she took in the views of the mountains before her "These mountains look a lot like the ones around your house."
"You're right." Tenchi agreed, taking in the splendor of his surroundings. He slowed Cetero down to wait for Carinna so they could walk side by side. "Do you miss being home, Ryouko?"
Ryouko considered her words. 'Well, I do live there, but can I really call it my home?' Tenchi saw her inner struggle and wondered what she was thinking about.
Finally, he realized what was bothering her. "It's your home too, Ryouko. It has been ever since you've started living there. It's everyone's home. Aeka, Sasami, Mihoshi, Kiyone, Washu, and Ryo-ohki. With Dad and Grandpa, we make one big... weird family, right?" Ryouko nodded. "The only thing that's different now is that you and I are together, and no matter who comes or goes out of that house over time, we will always be together."
Tenchi's commitment touched Ryouko and the expression on her face softened. "Yeah. As great of a time as we've had while we've been here, I miss being... home. Besides, with the exception of growing up with Washu, I've never really had a place to call home." She admitted, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "I wonder how Katsuhito is doing, and your dad."
"I'm sure they're fine." Tenchi guessed. "I'll bet dad hasn't even come home from his apartment in Tokyo and Grandpa has been hard at work at the shrine the entire time."
"Your dad is going to go crazy when he finds out we're dating, you know." Ryouko commented.
Tenchi groaned again. "Don't remind me, huh? Hey, I apologize in advance for anything dad does, and, or says."
Ryouko laughed. "Apology accepted."
A comfortable silence ensued as their horses walked side by side. Ryouko reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a ripe round fruit and took a bite out of it before passing it to Tenchi for him to try. "So, Tenchi? Now that you've graduated from high school, what do you plan on doing, you know, when we get back?"
Tenchi sighed and looked up to the sky. "I don't know, to tell you the truth. I still have time to apply to a college if I want to. My scores are decent enough. I know dad would like me to follow in his footsteps and Grandpa wants me to take over the shrine duties at some point. But really, I'm having so much fun being here with these horses, that I almost wish I didn't have to make that decision."
Ryouko nodded, thoughtful. "You're happiest when you are outside. I think you like this kind of rugged lifestyle."
Tenchi nodded. "I like this kind of work. I like the farming I've done, and this is similar in a way."
"How do you feel...about going to college?" Ryouko asked.
"Well, I don't know if I want to spend another four years in school, and I don't know what I would want to major in. But a degree would help me to earn more money." Tenchi replied. "What...what would you think if I wanted to go?" He asked.
Ryouko pointed to herself, a quizzical expression on her face. "Yes you." Tenchi confirmed. "You need to be a part of my decision making process too, you know."
Ryouko's first instinct was to tell Tenchi not to go to college, to stay and play with her all day, but she suppressed it, thinking realistically. "Tenchi, you can do anything you want...so long as you can take me with you." He nodded, but was still confused. Ryouko continued. "I think you just need to figure out what you want to do first, Tenchi."
"Well, I like being at home to work in the fields and to perform my shrine duties, but I also like the idea of going to college to learn architecture." Tenchi replied, and then chuckled. "That's everything. Guess that doesn't help, huh?"
Ryouko's face lit up as she got an idea. "Are there colleges near Okayama?"
"Yeah, a couple." Tenchi replied.
"Why don't you do it all then?" Ryouko asked excitedly. "You could stay at home and still keep your shrine duties and your work in the fields. Meanwhile you can go to college part time to learn architecture."
Tenchi's expression brightened. "Ryouko, you're right! I never really thought about that!"
Ryouko smiled as Tenchi continued considering the possibilities of her idea. She was happy that she could help Tenchi reach a conclusion, and happier yet that he had looked to her for input, and included her in his decision. 'I don't know where our future will take us, but as long as we're together, I know it won't matter.'
"Hey, is that the cabin over there?" Ryouko asked, standing up in her stirrups to get a better view.
Tenchi double checked the map. "Seems to be." He said as they looked at the place from a distance. Tucked between the edge of the grassy plain and the base of the forested mountain lay a small barn with a large overhang. Surrounding the barn was a small pasture with plenty of grass. Tucked under a stand of trees was their cabin, a small but quaint wooden house that looked like a cross between a log cabin and a Jurian home.
"Race you there, Tenchi." Ryouko challenged him.
"Ryouko! What's that over there?!" Tenchi suddenly asked, a shocked expression on his face as he pointed to the right.
"Huh?" Ryouko asked, looking to her right. "What is it? I don't see anything."
'Wait a second...' She thought to herself, but before she could turn around, Tenchi had already taken off on Cetero. Ryouko tightened her reins and squeezed Carinna, asking her for all she had to catch up with Cetero.
Carinna closed the gap in a matter of seconds and the two horses ran neck to neck in the open field. "That wasn't fair!" Ryouko yelled through the wind at Tenchi.
Tenchi laughed heartily. "That's the second time you've fallen for that!" He said, mockingly, his ponytail whipping behind him.
A pouty expression graced Ryouko's face and with new determination, she gently asked her horse for a little more as Carinna pulled out in front of her rival. The view of the cabin and the little barn began to get larger as they closed in on it. The goal was centered in Tenchi and Ryouko's sights in the crosshairs between the ears of their horses.
Feeling his rider's determination, Cetero made another effort to regain the lead, his legs pounding the earth below him, propelling his sprinting body even faster as he nosed out in front of Carinna. Tenchi smiled. The gate to the barn was only thirty feet away at most. 'I'm going to win this one!' He thought to himself.
Realizing that Tenchi was going to reach the fence that surrounded the barn first, Ryouko formed a new strategy. 'I can still win this.' She realized as she focused on the fence and reined Carinna in to slow her down and steady her pace.
Tenchi made it to the fence, Cetero sliding to a stop gracefully. "I win!" Tenchi shouted, turning to watch Ryouko and Carinna approach, still at a gallop. 'She's not slowing down!' He realized. "Ryouko! What are you doing!?" He exclaimed.
Ryouko stood up in her stirrups and thrust her fingers into Carinna's mane, urging her horse on with the motion of her arms as they neared the fence. Carinna propelled herself forward with her front legs one last time before springing forward and up with her hind legs. Ryouko held her breath and felt the familiar feel of flying as Carinna jumped clear over the fence. The split seconds that she was suspended in air felt like eternity as she had the time to notice the sun and a flock of birds in the sky before Carinna's front hooves connected with the ground on the other side, her rear legs following immediately after. Carinna slowed herself to a canter and Ryouko turned her around, looking at Cetero and Tenchi on the other side of the fence. Her face shone with a bright smile and the sun glinted off the platinum and diamond chips of the necklace Tenchi had given her.
"Looks like I won." Ryouko said breathlessly, winded from the experience.
Tenchi looked at her, speechless. The sight of the majestic horse leaping over the fence had awed him. Then, realizing his defeat he said, "That wasn't fair!"
Ryouko stuck her tongue at him. "Payback's a bitch, isn't it?" She said before chuckling at him, Tenchi joining in.
Ryouko patted Carinna heartily on the side, thanking her for the ride. Swinging her legs over the saddle and sliding down her horse's side, she dismounted, her legs stiff and sore from the four hour ride. She reached into her pocket and handed Carinna a treat before going to the gate to open it for Tenchi and his horse.
* * *
Propped up on the pillows of her headboard, Washu wore a perplexed expression as she typed at her holotop computer that floated before her. She was again analyzing the data from Ryouko's bracelet.
'This bracelet,' She thought to herself as she picked up a cup of hot tea hovering next to her holotop, 'there is something odd about it, something my computer can't decipher, but what is it? It's obvious that the materials that were used to make it are not of this planet, but...the discomforting fact is that it's not from anywhere that I have information for at all!'
"Arrrgh!" Washu exclaimed, passing though her holotop as she rose from the bed, aggravated at herself. 'I need more information.' Washu realized. 'Perhaps Kiyone can help me out with this.'
Spinning her holotop to face her, she furiously tapped a series of keys, and suddenly, a disoriented Kiyone dropped out of a sub-space pocket right above the bed. Falling onto the mattress and landing on her rear, Kiyone held a microphone in one hand and a can of beer in the other. A slight blush covered her cheeks.
"Little Washu!...is there um, something I can do for you?" Kiyone asked.
"As a matter of fact, there is." Washu answered.
Seeing her holotop hovering above the bed, Kiyone inquired, "Are you still doing research on that bracelet?"
Washu faltered, not liking to have all the answers. "Yeah, I don't have any information about it at all."
"What about the Yagami's databanks? We can access the Galaxy Police's records to see if there is anything similar in the composition of the materials." Kiyone suggested.
"That's what I wanted to ask you. Let's patch into the Yagami now." Washu said as she typed combinations of buttons while reading her screen. She inputted the data she had collected on the bracelet and ran it through Yagami's database of records. Kiyone and Washu watched the screen until the answer came back.
[Zero similar matches.] The screen read.
"Nothing there." Kiyone said. "Now use the Yagami to get through to the Galaxy Police databanks."
Washu speedily continued typing, the content on the screens changing as fast as the blink of an eye as she raced to her destination. Inputting her data into the main databank, she waited tensely for the results.
[Zero similar matches.] The screen repeated.
"Aargh!" Washu exclaimed again, pounding her fist into a pillow.
"Little Washu, you aren't worried are you?" Kiyone asked. She held her chin in her hand, her brow knit in concentration. "You don't think that there are secret intentions behind the Prince asking Ryouko to relieve her powers, do you?"
Washu sighed. She didn't want to go against her daughter's wishes, but she needed to talk to someone, and she knew that Kiyone was the best person around. "I know so."
"What do you mean, little Washu?" Kiyone asked.
"That twice, Ryouko has been attacked while wearing this bracelet." Replied Washu.
A worried expression settled onto Kiyone's face. "Why didn't you tell the rest of us about this?"
Washu held her hand up for Kiyone to calm down. "At Ryouko's request, the only others who know about it are myself and Tenchi. She doesn't want anyone to worry about it. Ryouko... she's trying to set things right with the people of Jurai, and she doesn't want to cause a stir while she's here, so she refuses to report it."
Kiyone relaxed, but wore a bothered expression. "I don't think that's a wise idea."
Washu shrugged and turned back to her holotop. "Thanks for the access to the databanks, Kiyone. I'll send you back to Mihoshi now, she must be going crazy trying to find you."
"But Little-" Kiyone began before Washu sent her back to where she came from in the same fashion that she arrived.
Washu picked up her teacup, still hovering in the air next to her holotop. 'How can there be no recorded samples of the materials in the bracelet at all? And yet somehow...somehow I feel like I should know them already.'
* * *
After untacking their horses, Tenchi and Ryouko went to their cabin, eager to see what it looked like. The exterior was made entirely of wood, it was small and had a porch with rocking chairs in the front. The interior was warm and quaint, with only a main living room, a small kitchen, and a bedroom and bathroom. The decorations were simple and rugged, the furniture was made of wood and cloth and there was a fireplace in the bedroom.
The fading sunlight of evening bathed the living room in soft hues of orange and yellow. A slight breeze batted the curtains around the window frames. Ryouko simply relaxed as they took a break after having prepared and eaten a light dinner of a meat that tasted oddly like chicken. Needless to say, Tenchi had done most of the cooking. Ryouko stared up at the wooden ceiling above her. Nestled into the living room couch with her head on Tenchi's lap while he ran his fingers through her hair.
"I'd have to say that your hair doesn't look like it would be as silky and soft as it feels." Tenchi kidded with her.
Ryouko chucked and shut her eyes, purring at Tenchi's touch. "It is deceiving, isn't it? It kind of has a mind of it's own." Tenchi continued to play with her cyan locks as a comfortable silence settled between the two.
"It's hard to believe that we're here." Ryouko said quietly.
"In the cabin?" Tenchi asked densely.
"No, silly. I mean together, after all the things we've been through." Ryouko explained.
Tenchi nodded and leaned down, planting a kiss on her forehead. "I wouldn't trade any of it. For anything."
"Me neither." Ryouko agreed, reaching for his free hand with one of her own and lacing their fingers together. Tenchi marveled at Ryouko' small but powerful hands as her slim fingers intertwined themselves in his own large clumsy ones. Ryouko sat up, still leaning against Tenchi as she examined his hands in her lap. Spotting a long, white scar on the outside of his hand she said, "I remember when you got this scar."
"You do?" Tenchi asked as he looked down at their hands. "I think I was three or four years old when I got it."
A shadow of a smile crossed Ryouko's lips. "You were playing at the creek near the cave and you slipped on a loose rock, fell into the creek, and caught your hand on a broken bottle."
A look of realization crossed Tenchi's face as he remembered. "That's right, I remember that now. I was so scared because mother told me not to get dirty, and there I was, soaked and bleeding. So I cried and cried, and...you were there all the time, weren't you?"
Ryouko nodded, almost sheepishly. "I was always there watching over you, Tenchi. When you were that young, you could see my astral form. We used to play games together, and I used to console you when you were troubled, even though we couldn't even touch or talk to each other."
"How...how could I have forgotten?" Tenchi asked, a hurt expression on his face as the memories began returning to him.
"It's not your fault Tenchi." Ryouko said softly. "You could see me when you were a child because I was nothing but an apparition, and only young children can ever really see into that dimension. When you started school and moved to Tokyo, I only saw you when you would come back to visit Katsuhito and by then, you couldn't see me anymore."
Tenchi held Ryouko tight to him, his face buried in her shoulder as the nighttime sounds of frogs and crickets were carried by a breeze through the open window. "I'm so sorry, Ryouko." He whispered.
She smiled sweetly. "Tenchi, don't be. I think that everything happened for a reason. And after all, we're together now, aren't we?"
Tenchi's mood lightened and he nodded in agreement. "Do you remember all those games we used to play?" He asked with a chuckle.
"Hide and seek, tag, and my favorite, cops and robbers!" Ryouko exclaimed.
Tenchi cocked an eyebrow. "That would be your favorite, wouldn't it? And it didn't have to be just cops or robbers, anything would do. Galaxy Police and Pirates, you were fond of that one too."
"Ne, Tenchi, why don't we play a game now?" Ryouko suggested, turning around to look him in the eye.
Tenchi began, "Sure, what do you want to p-"
"You're it!" Ryouko exclaimed as the slapped his forehead and pushed herself off the couch, running to the other side of the room.
* * *
Things were never as they seemed in the unidentifiable coordinates of space that celestial beings occupied. D3's head floated among the stars, his consciousness imagining the possibilities. He had wanted to ask the Lady Tokimi of her plans, but feared overstepping his boundaries.
"I can sense you are confused." Tokimi said.
D3 swallowed hard, and decided to ask. "My lady?" He was acutely aware of her gaze as she looked down on him with condescending, yet inquisitive eyes. "May I ask why you are after Washu's creation?"
The woman's eyes took on a far away look. "To get to my sister, of course. Without her demon child that she cares so for so dearly, she will have nothing left to tie her to that dimension. Using her creation as a ransom, she might be more...willing to throw away that joke of a mortal life and reclaim her destined place as one of the Chousin."
D3 had no response to her plan. He merely nodded as his mistress dismissed him.
* * *
"You can run, but you can't hide!" Ryouko called out as she chased Tenchi through the bedroom and back into the living room. It was her turn to be 'it' for the eleventh time. Jumping over the coffee table, she cornered Tenchi, who ducked at her first attempt to tag him. "That's not going to work." She laughed at him as she tagged him hard on the chest before running away, vaulting herself over the couch and ducking back into the bedroom, her baggy jeans brushing along the wooden floor.
Tenchi followed her, out of breath between laughing and running all over the little house. Seeing her hiding between the door and the wall inside the bedroom, he stepped in quickly and opened the door, trapping her between the wall and blocking the only exit.
Ryouko lunged to the right and Tenchi followed after her, grabbing for her with his hands. He pulled her back into him, holding his arms around her exposed midriff as she laughed loudly, trying to squirm out of his hold. "You're it!" He said into her ear between laughs.
"Then I'm taking you down with me!" She insisted as she pushed off with her legs and the two of them fell onto the bed.
They landed with a soft thud into the fluffy king sized bed, sinking into the thick comforter. Both out of breath, they lay there motionless, trying to slow their breathing. The evening breeze came in through the room's open windows, cooling off the sweat on their brows as they lay next to each other, panting.
Eventually, Ryouko rolled to her side, propping herself up on her elbow to face Tenchi, flashing a wide smile at him. "Don't you wish you were a child again?" She asked.
Tenchi turned to meet her, their bodies facing each other as he placed his hand on her hip. "No."
"Why not?" Ryouko asked, bewildered.
"Because children can't do this..." Tenchi said as grabbed a handful of her shirt and pulled her into him, initiating a deep, passionate kiss.
Ryouko was momentarily caught off guard by Tenchi's assertiveness but soon surrendered and gave in to the passion. Slipping her tongue into his mouth, she angled her head, deepening their kiss as she purred into his mouth. She slid her hand along Tenchi's body, over his hip, along his rib cage, then over his strong, muscular shoulder. She cupped his face in her hand, her thumb sliding forward to caress the corner of his mouth as they kissed before sending her fingers to his hair, running her nails through his bangs.
Tenchi moaned into her mouth and rolled onto his back, pulling Ryouko with him so that she was laying half on top of him and half on the bed, straddling one of his legs. Both hands on her waist, he slid them around to her back and traveled up her spine, pressing her body into his.
Ryouko instinctively pressed her hips into Tenchi's. As he moaned again, she ended their kiss, tipped her head to the side and ran her tongue along his neck, pausing only to gently bite the tender flesh. Tenchi slid his hands around to run them up her rib cage, stopping below the swell of her chest briefly before turning his hands to cup each of Ryouko's breasts.
As night fell in the valley before the mountains, the two moons of Umano broke the horizon, the twin orbs of gentle light washing a serene hue over the land. Crickets and frogs sang their praises to the stars as the young couple expressed themselves in a way that only lovers can.
* * *
Outside, in the darkness of the forest came the muted sound of a twig being broken. Then another, and yet another. A force was building itself in the darkness of the shadows, it's leader, Aoyama Masamitsu, grim and determined. Capturing the demon and bringing her back to the Goddess Tokimi was the only thing on his mind as he pushed his followers through the forest.
* * *
End Chapter Seven.
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 Seven: Wings of Discovery
"Aeka-oneechan, could you please grab me a towel?" Sasami's voice called to her sister from the poolside where she was splashing around with Washu, who was back in her child form, and Ryo-ohki in her toddler form.
Aeka nodded and rose from her pool chair, turning to the cabana where the towels were held. Parting the doors to the cabana, she suddenly froze. In the back of the cabana, Tenchi and Ryouko were leaning against a mountain of towels, locked in a passionate embrace. Aeka's stomach plumeted at the scene. She backed up, and quietly shut the doors to the cabana, her eyes downcast.
"Is there something wrong Aeka?" Sasami asked. Still waiting for her towel.
Aeka was momentarily caught off guard. "No Sasami...this cabana is just out of towels. I will go to that one over there." She said, her voice hiding a tremmor of emotion.
Aeka walked towards another cabana, attempting to dismiss the image from her mind. It had only been four days since Tenchi had confessed his love for Ryouko and the pain was still fresh. She had to admit that truly, she was happy for them. In her entire three years of knowing both Tenchi and Ryouko, neither one of them had ever seemed so happy. However, that did not make the situation any easier on her. She could not help but to still long to be the one that Tenchi had chosen. Aeka sighed as she opened the door the next cabana and pulled a towel off the shelf.
Bringing the towel back to Sasami, the little girl picked herself up out of the pool and dryed herself off. "Hey, where did Tenchi and Ryouko go, are they okay?" She asked.
"They are how should I say...indisposed at the moment. We shouldn't bother them." Aeka supplied, trying to fight down her blush.
"I don't think anything could bother them. Watch this." Washu said from the pool as she spotted Mihoshi and Kiyone approaching them. Washu pointed towards the cabana and yelled, "Look Mihoshi, the main character from Space Police Police Man is inside that cabana!"
"Really?" Mihoshi exclaimed, dropping her bag of tanning oils as she lunged for the door to the cabana, flinging it open. "Mister Space Police Police Man, are you in here?" She exclaimed loudly as she stepped in and examined the room.
Walking out and shutting the door behind her, she said, "I think you're mistaken Little Washu, its just Tenchi and Ryouko making out in there."
"Ewwww!" Sasami exclaimed as everyone face-faulted, save Washu who nodded smugly. "My mistake." She said casually.
A few minutes later, Tenchi and Ryouko stepped out of the cabana and walked to the poolside to join their family, Ryouko stretching her hands obliviously to the sky. "Sorry we're late." She said in a casual lie. "We were a little busy."
"Don't you mean getting busy?" Washu chided.
Tenchi and Ryouko turned red from embarrassment. A vein popped in Aeka's brow as she picked a bottle of sun tan lotion and hurled it at Washu.
"Kidding, kidding." Washu said sorely, rubbing her arm where the bottle had hit her. "Hey, aren't you two going on that overnight riding trip today?"
Tenchi nodded. "We just wanted to let you all know we were leaving now."
"I'm sure you two will have a great time. Can you give Devoto a carrot for me?" Sasami asked from the pool.
"Sure will, kiddo." Ryouko said cheerfully.
Washu lowered her voice so that only Tenchi and Ryouko could hear her. "You two be careful out there. We don't know if Masamitsu is likely to attack you again, Ryouko." Ryouko nodded, knowingly.
"Don't worry. I'll be with her, Little Washu." Tenchi said warmly.
Washu nodded. "I know. Thank you, Tenchi."
"Come on you guys, you're making me sound like I'm defenseless!" Ryouko whined.
Tenchi chuckled at his girlfriend and said, "Let's say our goodbyes and get going."
* * *
In the depths of space, against a backdrop of stars and black holes millions of light years away, an ethereal head hung in the blackness. "My lady, Aoyama Masamitsu of Umano approaches. I sense that he brings news." It's deep voice said.
"And how long have you been poisoning his mind?" A female voice asked.
"Longer than the time in which you require, my lady." Came the reply.
"Excellent." The woman said.
* * *
"Ryouko, will you stop fooling around and help me tack up the horses?" Tenchi asked, as Ryouko hung her arms around his neck, planting soft wet kisses along his collarbone. Dressed in the same outfits they had previously worn for riding, the two were supposed to be getting their horses ready.
"Pfft. Fine then." Ryouko replied, sticking her tongue out at Tenchi, who smiled at her before giving her a light slap on the rear as she walked out of the stall.
Ryouko placed her hand where he she had been slapped, a shocked expression on her face. "I'll remember that!" She exclaimed.
"Is that a threat, dear?" Tenchi asked as he tightened Cetero's girth.
"A promise. It's a promise, my Tenchi." She replied, smiling, as she picked up a saddle and returned to Carinna's stall.
After getting their horses tacked up by themselves, Nozomi and Kamui met Tenchi and Ryouko in the barn before they were to depart. Kamui carried two saddlebags full of their clothes, water and snacks draped over his shoulders and Nozomi held a rolled up paper under her arm.
"Here is the map showing you the directions to the cabin we've prepared for you." Nozomi explained as the unrolled the paper, tracing the route with her finger. "It'll take a good four hours of riding to get there. Once you arrive, you'll find everything you need is already prepared."
Kamui picked up where his wife left off, speaking to Tenchi and Ryouko as he secured a saddlebag to each horse's saddle. "The pasture and barn will be open, so when you arrive, just untack your horses and let them roam the pasture. The cabin is stocked with just about any kind of food you could want, enough for a couple of days worth should you decide to extend your stay."
Nozomi winked at Tenchi and Ryouko and slyly asked, "So, you aren't going to tell me that you two aren't a thing now, right?"
Tenchi scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "Actually, we are now." Ryouko said, a smile on her face.
"See, Kamui? I told you I know what I'm talking about. I know a good thing when I see it." Nozomi said, laying a light punch to her husband's shoulder.
Kamui chuckled and nodded his head. "Well, you're all set. Be careful, call for help if you need it, and above all, have a good time, you two!"
* * *
Aoyama Masamitsu piloted his spaceship towards unspecified coordinates. He knew not what they were, as they had been downloaded to his ship and this attempt, just like the others before them to figure them out had proven fruitless. He merely sat back in his chair and waited for the inevitable, anxious to meet with the ancient being.
Suddenly, the space around him shifted. He couldn't explain it, as there were no words to describe it, but Masamitsu suddenly found himself standing on a long pathway in the middle of space. Great oceans stretched on either side, creatures of mammoth proportions swimming in its depths. Coming to the end of the path, he simply stopped, as there was nothing he could do to call the being to him. So he waited.
Soon, before his eyes, an enormous ethereal shape of an old bearded face with gray hair came to view in front of the stars before him. Masamitsu bowed to this being. "D3, I bring you news."
The head cocked his eyebrow. "Continue."
Masamitsu calmed the butterflies in his stomach before he spoke. "The attacks on the demon Ryouko have been unsuccessful. My men were thwarted on the first attempt. We would have had her, but a young man by the name of Masaki Tenchi, a visitor from a planet called Earth intercepted, he was wielding a Jurian Key. I then sent androids to fight this man to analyze his sword data. What I found from the tests was unbelievable. There is a ninety nine percent assurance that his Key is the Tenchi-ken, the sword of the Crown Prince of Jurai."
D3 took in Masamitsu's explanation, a thoughtful look to his clouded eyes. "That does not explain why you have not brought the demon to our lady."
The prince faltered, fear rising from his belly. "Because that man protects the demon and I...I do not have the strength to fight the sword of the Crown Prince of the Jurian Empire."
The ethereal face of D3 faded away to nothingness and from the depths of space was replaced by an equally enormous vision of a beautiful woman. Her black pupils and blue eyes shone like the depths of a black hole. She had a design of a green leaf on either side of her cheek and two small, round circles were inset low upon her forehead. Locks of thick brown hair with orange accents framed her face and billowing strips of cloth surrounded her body. Masamitsu sensed her greatness and collapsed to one knee to bow in reverence.
"Would you desire the power to defeat the demon?" The cool voice of the vision spoke, leaving Masamitsu speechless as he averted his gaze. "I am the Goddess Tokimi, and I can grant you the power you require to defeat that sword and bring the demon to me."
"To...Tokimi-sama?" Masamitsu asked. His mind raced. As a Prince, he had been taught the ancient history of his planet, he had read the ancient scrolls, and he remembered the name of Tokimi. "The...the ancient Goddess of our planet?" He asked tentatively.
Tokimi smirked. "That is, until the Jurian empire replaced me with a false Goddess."
Masamitsu faltered, looking for the words. "Allow me to right my planet's wrongs, allow me to serve you, Lady Tokimi. Allow me to bring you the demon."
"Go. Bring her to me." She said smugly. "You shall be granted the power which you require."
* * *
The strong afternoon sun beat down on the horseback travelers as they followed the path that lay at the base of the mountains. Trees lined one side of the path, but afforded them no shade. Crickets and other insects buzzed loudly in the tall grasses that stretched on as far as the eye could see.
"My butt hurts." Ryouko whined, shifting in her saddle as she unbuttoned another button on her blouse to try to cool off.
Tenchi groaned. "Mine too. Well, we have been out for more than three hours, so I guess it's to be expected."
"Three hours?" Ryouko sighed, patting the broad shoulder of Carinna as she took in the views of the mountains before her "These mountains look a lot like the ones around your house."
"You're right." Tenchi agreed, taking in the splendor of his surroundings. He slowed Cetero down to wait for Carinna so they could walk side by side. "Do you miss being home, Ryouko?"
Ryouko considered her words. 'Well, I do live there, but can I really call it my home?' Tenchi saw her inner struggle and wondered what she was thinking about.
Finally, he realized what was bothering her. "It's your home too, Ryouko. It has been ever since you've started living there. It's everyone's home. Aeka, Sasami, Mihoshi, Kiyone, Washu, and Ryo-ohki. With Dad and Grandpa, we make one big... weird family, right?" Ryouko nodded. "The only thing that's different now is that you and I are together, and no matter who comes or goes out of that house over time, we will always be together."
Tenchi's commitment touched Ryouko and the expression on her face softened. "Yeah. As great of a time as we've had while we've been here, I miss being... home. Besides, with the exception of growing up with Washu, I've never really had a place to call home." She admitted, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "I wonder how Katsuhito is doing, and your dad."
"I'm sure they're fine." Tenchi guessed. "I'll bet dad hasn't even come home from his apartment in Tokyo and Grandpa has been hard at work at the shrine the entire time."
"Your dad is going to go crazy when he finds out we're dating, you know." Ryouko commented.
Tenchi groaned again. "Don't remind me, huh? Hey, I apologize in advance for anything dad does, and, or says."
Ryouko laughed. "Apology accepted."
A comfortable silence ensued as their horses walked side by side. Ryouko reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a ripe round fruit and took a bite out of it before passing it to Tenchi for him to try. "So, Tenchi? Now that you've graduated from high school, what do you plan on doing, you know, when we get back?"
Tenchi sighed and looked up to the sky. "I don't know, to tell you the truth. I still have time to apply to a college if I want to. My scores are decent enough. I know dad would like me to follow in his footsteps and Grandpa wants me to take over the shrine duties at some point. But really, I'm having so much fun being here with these horses, that I almost wish I didn't have to make that decision."
Ryouko nodded, thoughtful. "You're happiest when you are outside. I think you like this kind of rugged lifestyle."
Tenchi nodded. "I like this kind of work. I like the farming I've done, and this is similar in a way."
"How do you feel...about going to college?" Ryouko asked.
"Well, I don't know if I want to spend another four years in school, and I don't know what I would want to major in. But a degree would help me to earn more money." Tenchi replied. "What...what would you think if I wanted to go?" He asked.
Ryouko pointed to herself, a quizzical expression on her face. "Yes you." Tenchi confirmed. "You need to be a part of my decision making process too, you know."
Ryouko's first instinct was to tell Tenchi not to go to college, to stay and play with her all day, but she suppressed it, thinking realistically. "Tenchi, you can do anything you want...so long as you can take me with you." He nodded, but was still confused. Ryouko continued. "I think you just need to figure out what you want to do first, Tenchi."
"Well, I like being at home to work in the fields and to perform my shrine duties, but I also like the idea of going to college to learn architecture." Tenchi replied, and then chuckled. "That's everything. Guess that doesn't help, huh?"
Ryouko's face lit up as she got an idea. "Are there colleges near Okayama?"
"Yeah, a couple." Tenchi replied.
"Why don't you do it all then?" Ryouko asked excitedly. "You could stay at home and still keep your shrine duties and your work in the fields. Meanwhile you can go to college part time to learn architecture."
Tenchi's expression brightened. "Ryouko, you're right! I never really thought about that!"
Ryouko smiled as Tenchi continued considering the possibilities of her idea. She was happy that she could help Tenchi reach a conclusion, and happier yet that he had looked to her for input, and included her in his decision. 'I don't know where our future will take us, but as long as we're together, I know it won't matter.'
"Hey, is that the cabin over there?" Ryouko asked, standing up in her stirrups to get a better view.
Tenchi double checked the map. "Seems to be." He said as they looked at the place from a distance. Tucked between the edge of the grassy plain and the base of the forested mountain lay a small barn with a large overhang. Surrounding the barn was a small pasture with plenty of grass. Tucked under a stand of trees was their cabin, a small but quaint wooden house that looked like a cross between a log cabin and a Jurian home.
"Race you there, Tenchi." Ryouko challenged him.
"Ryouko! What's that over there?!" Tenchi suddenly asked, a shocked expression on his face as he pointed to the right.
"Huh?" Ryouko asked, looking to her right. "What is it? I don't see anything."
'Wait a second...' She thought to herself, but before she could turn around, Tenchi had already taken off on Cetero. Ryouko tightened her reins and squeezed Carinna, asking her for all she had to catch up with Cetero.
Carinna closed the gap in a matter of seconds and the two horses ran neck to neck in the open field. "That wasn't fair!" Ryouko yelled through the wind at Tenchi.
Tenchi laughed heartily. "That's the second time you've fallen for that!" He said, mockingly, his ponytail whipping behind him.
A pouty expression graced Ryouko's face and with new determination, she gently asked her horse for a little more as Carinna pulled out in front of her rival. The view of the cabin and the little barn began to get larger as they closed in on it. The goal was centered in Tenchi and Ryouko's sights in the crosshairs between the ears of their horses.
Feeling his rider's determination, Cetero made another effort to regain the lead, his legs pounding the earth below him, propelling his sprinting body even faster as he nosed out in front of Carinna. Tenchi smiled. The gate to the barn was only thirty feet away at most. 'I'm going to win this one!' He thought to himself.
Realizing that Tenchi was going to reach the fence that surrounded the barn first, Ryouko formed a new strategy. 'I can still win this.' She realized as she focused on the fence and reined Carinna in to slow her down and steady her pace.
Tenchi made it to the fence, Cetero sliding to a stop gracefully. "I win!" Tenchi shouted, turning to watch Ryouko and Carinna approach, still at a gallop. 'She's not slowing down!' He realized. "Ryouko! What are you doing!?" He exclaimed.
Ryouko stood up in her stirrups and thrust her fingers into Carinna's mane, urging her horse on with the motion of her arms as they neared the fence. Carinna propelled herself forward with her front legs one last time before springing forward and up with her hind legs. Ryouko held her breath and felt the familiar feel of flying as Carinna jumped clear over the fence. The split seconds that she was suspended in air felt like eternity as she had the time to notice the sun and a flock of birds in the sky before Carinna's front hooves connected with the ground on the other side, her rear legs following immediately after. Carinna slowed herself to a canter and Ryouko turned her around, looking at Cetero and Tenchi on the other side of the fence. Her face shone with a bright smile and the sun glinted off the platinum and diamond chips of the necklace Tenchi had given her.
"Looks like I won." Ryouko said breathlessly, winded from the experience.
Tenchi looked at her, speechless. The sight of the majestic horse leaping over the fence had awed him. Then, realizing his defeat he said, "That wasn't fair!"
Ryouko stuck her tongue at him. "Payback's a bitch, isn't it?" She said before chuckling at him, Tenchi joining in.
Ryouko patted Carinna heartily on the side, thanking her for the ride. Swinging her legs over the saddle and sliding down her horse's side, she dismounted, her legs stiff and sore from the four hour ride. She reached into her pocket and handed Carinna a treat before going to the gate to open it for Tenchi and his horse.
* * *
Propped up on the pillows of her headboard, Washu wore a perplexed expression as she typed at her holotop computer that floated before her. She was again analyzing the data from Ryouko's bracelet.
'This bracelet,' She thought to herself as she picked up a cup of hot tea hovering next to her holotop, 'there is something odd about it, something my computer can't decipher, but what is it? It's obvious that the materials that were used to make it are not of this planet, but...the discomforting fact is that it's not from anywhere that I have information for at all!'
"Arrrgh!" Washu exclaimed, passing though her holotop as she rose from the bed, aggravated at herself. 'I need more information.' Washu realized. 'Perhaps Kiyone can help me out with this.'
Spinning her holotop to face her, she furiously tapped a series of keys, and suddenly, a disoriented Kiyone dropped out of a sub-space pocket right above the bed. Falling onto the mattress and landing on her rear, Kiyone held a microphone in one hand and a can of beer in the other. A slight blush covered her cheeks.
"Little Washu!...is there um, something I can do for you?" Kiyone asked.
"As a matter of fact, there is." Washu answered.
Seeing her holotop hovering above the bed, Kiyone inquired, "Are you still doing research on that bracelet?"
Washu faltered, not liking to have all the answers. "Yeah, I don't have any information about it at all."
"What about the Yagami's databanks? We can access the Galaxy Police's records to see if there is anything similar in the composition of the materials." Kiyone suggested.
"That's what I wanted to ask you. Let's patch into the Yagami now." Washu said as she typed combinations of buttons while reading her screen. She inputted the data she had collected on the bracelet and ran it through Yagami's database of records. Kiyone and Washu watched the screen until the answer came back.
[Zero similar matches.] The screen read.
"Nothing there." Kiyone said. "Now use the Yagami to get through to the Galaxy Police databanks."
Washu speedily continued typing, the content on the screens changing as fast as the blink of an eye as she raced to her destination. Inputting her data into the main databank, she waited tensely for the results.
[Zero similar matches.] The screen repeated.
"Aargh!" Washu exclaimed again, pounding her fist into a pillow.
"Little Washu, you aren't worried are you?" Kiyone asked. She held her chin in her hand, her brow knit in concentration. "You don't think that there are secret intentions behind the Prince asking Ryouko to relieve her powers, do you?"
Washu sighed. She didn't want to go against her daughter's wishes, but she needed to talk to someone, and she knew that Kiyone was the best person around. "I know so."
"What do you mean, little Washu?" Kiyone asked.
"That twice, Ryouko has been attacked while wearing this bracelet." Replied Washu.
A worried expression settled onto Kiyone's face. "Why didn't you tell the rest of us about this?"
Washu held her hand up for Kiyone to calm down. "At Ryouko's request, the only others who know about it are myself and Tenchi. She doesn't want anyone to worry about it. Ryouko... she's trying to set things right with the people of Jurai, and she doesn't want to cause a stir while she's here, so she refuses to report it."
Kiyone relaxed, but wore a bothered expression. "I don't think that's a wise idea."
Washu shrugged and turned back to her holotop. "Thanks for the access to the databanks, Kiyone. I'll send you back to Mihoshi now, she must be going crazy trying to find you."
"But Little-" Kiyone began before Washu sent her back to where she came from in the same fashion that she arrived.
Washu picked up her teacup, still hovering in the air next to her holotop. 'How can there be no recorded samples of the materials in the bracelet at all? And yet somehow...somehow I feel like I should know them already.'
* * *
After untacking their horses, Tenchi and Ryouko went to their cabin, eager to see what it looked like. The exterior was made entirely of wood, it was small and had a porch with rocking chairs in the front. The interior was warm and quaint, with only a main living room, a small kitchen, and a bedroom and bathroom. The decorations were simple and rugged, the furniture was made of wood and cloth and there was a fireplace in the bedroom.
The fading sunlight of evening bathed the living room in soft hues of orange and yellow. A slight breeze batted the curtains around the window frames. Ryouko simply relaxed as they took a break after having prepared and eaten a light dinner of a meat that tasted oddly like chicken. Needless to say, Tenchi had done most of the cooking. Ryouko stared up at the wooden ceiling above her. Nestled into the living room couch with her head on Tenchi's lap while he ran his fingers through her hair.
"I'd have to say that your hair doesn't look like it would be as silky and soft as it feels." Tenchi kidded with her.
Ryouko chucked and shut her eyes, purring at Tenchi's touch. "It is deceiving, isn't it? It kind of has a mind of it's own." Tenchi continued to play with her cyan locks as a comfortable silence settled between the two.
"It's hard to believe that we're here." Ryouko said quietly.
"In the cabin?" Tenchi asked densely.
"No, silly. I mean together, after all the things we've been through." Ryouko explained.
Tenchi nodded and leaned down, planting a kiss on her forehead. "I wouldn't trade any of it. For anything."
"Me neither." Ryouko agreed, reaching for his free hand with one of her own and lacing their fingers together. Tenchi marveled at Ryouko' small but powerful hands as her slim fingers intertwined themselves in his own large clumsy ones. Ryouko sat up, still leaning against Tenchi as she examined his hands in her lap. Spotting a long, white scar on the outside of his hand she said, "I remember when you got this scar."
"You do?" Tenchi asked as he looked down at their hands. "I think I was three or four years old when I got it."
A shadow of a smile crossed Ryouko's lips. "You were playing at the creek near the cave and you slipped on a loose rock, fell into the creek, and caught your hand on a broken bottle."
A look of realization crossed Tenchi's face as he remembered. "That's right, I remember that now. I was so scared because mother told me not to get dirty, and there I was, soaked and bleeding. So I cried and cried, and...you were there all the time, weren't you?"
Ryouko nodded, almost sheepishly. "I was always there watching over you, Tenchi. When you were that young, you could see my astral form. We used to play games together, and I used to console you when you were troubled, even though we couldn't even touch or talk to each other."
"How...how could I have forgotten?" Tenchi asked, a hurt expression on his face as the memories began returning to him.
"It's not your fault Tenchi." Ryouko said softly. "You could see me when you were a child because I was nothing but an apparition, and only young children can ever really see into that dimension. When you started school and moved to Tokyo, I only saw you when you would come back to visit Katsuhito and by then, you couldn't see me anymore."
Tenchi held Ryouko tight to him, his face buried in her shoulder as the nighttime sounds of frogs and crickets were carried by a breeze through the open window. "I'm so sorry, Ryouko." He whispered.
She smiled sweetly. "Tenchi, don't be. I think that everything happened for a reason. And after all, we're together now, aren't we?"
Tenchi's mood lightened and he nodded in agreement. "Do you remember all those games we used to play?" He asked with a chuckle.
"Hide and seek, tag, and my favorite, cops and robbers!" Ryouko exclaimed.
Tenchi cocked an eyebrow. "That would be your favorite, wouldn't it? And it didn't have to be just cops or robbers, anything would do. Galaxy Police and Pirates, you were fond of that one too."
"Ne, Tenchi, why don't we play a game now?" Ryouko suggested, turning around to look him in the eye.
Tenchi began, "Sure, what do you want to p-"
"You're it!" Ryouko exclaimed as the slapped his forehead and pushed herself off the couch, running to the other side of the room.
* * *
Things were never as they seemed in the unidentifiable coordinates of space that celestial beings occupied. D3's head floated among the stars, his consciousness imagining the possibilities. He had wanted to ask the Lady Tokimi of her plans, but feared overstepping his boundaries.
"I can sense you are confused." Tokimi said.
D3 swallowed hard, and decided to ask. "My lady?" He was acutely aware of her gaze as she looked down on him with condescending, yet inquisitive eyes. "May I ask why you are after Washu's creation?"
The woman's eyes took on a far away look. "To get to my sister, of course. Without her demon child that she cares so for so dearly, she will have nothing left to tie her to that dimension. Using her creation as a ransom, she might be more...willing to throw away that joke of a mortal life and reclaim her destined place as one of the Chousin."
D3 had no response to her plan. He merely nodded as his mistress dismissed him.
* * *
"You can run, but you can't hide!" Ryouko called out as she chased Tenchi through the bedroom and back into the living room. It was her turn to be 'it' for the eleventh time. Jumping over the coffee table, she cornered Tenchi, who ducked at her first attempt to tag him. "That's not going to work." She laughed at him as she tagged him hard on the chest before running away, vaulting herself over the couch and ducking back into the bedroom, her baggy jeans brushing along the wooden floor.
Tenchi followed her, out of breath between laughing and running all over the little house. Seeing her hiding between the door and the wall inside the bedroom, he stepped in quickly and opened the door, trapping her between the wall and blocking the only exit.
Ryouko lunged to the right and Tenchi followed after her, grabbing for her with his hands. He pulled her back into him, holding his arms around her exposed midriff as she laughed loudly, trying to squirm out of his hold. "You're it!" He said into her ear between laughs.
"Then I'm taking you down with me!" She insisted as she pushed off with her legs and the two of them fell onto the bed.
They landed with a soft thud into the fluffy king sized bed, sinking into the thick comforter. Both out of breath, they lay there motionless, trying to slow their breathing. The evening breeze came in through the room's open windows, cooling off the sweat on their brows as they lay next to each other, panting.
Eventually, Ryouko rolled to her side, propping herself up on her elbow to face Tenchi, flashing a wide smile at him. "Don't you wish you were a child again?" She asked.
Tenchi turned to meet her, their bodies facing each other as he placed his hand on her hip. "No."
"Why not?" Ryouko asked, bewildered.
"Because children can't do this..." Tenchi said as grabbed a handful of her shirt and pulled her into him, initiating a deep, passionate kiss.
Ryouko was momentarily caught off guard by Tenchi's assertiveness but soon surrendered and gave in to the passion. Slipping her tongue into his mouth, she angled her head, deepening their kiss as she purred into his mouth. She slid her hand along Tenchi's body, over his hip, along his rib cage, then over his strong, muscular shoulder. She cupped his face in her hand, her thumb sliding forward to caress the corner of his mouth as they kissed before sending her fingers to his hair, running her nails through his bangs.
Tenchi moaned into her mouth and rolled onto his back, pulling Ryouko with him so that she was laying half on top of him and half on the bed, straddling one of his legs. Both hands on her waist, he slid them around to her back and traveled up her spine, pressing her body into his.
Ryouko instinctively pressed her hips into Tenchi's. As he moaned again, she ended their kiss, tipped her head to the side and ran her tongue along his neck, pausing only to gently bite the tender flesh. Tenchi slid his hands around to run them up her rib cage, stopping below the swell of her chest briefly before turning his hands to cup each of Ryouko's breasts.
As night fell in the valley before the mountains, the two moons of Umano broke the horizon, the twin orbs of gentle light washing a serene hue over the land. Crickets and frogs sang their praises to the stars as the young couple expressed themselves in a way that only lovers can.
* * *
Outside, in the darkness of the forest came the muted sound of a twig being broken. Then another, and yet another. A force was building itself in the darkness of the shadows, it's leader, Aoyama Masamitsu, grim and determined. Capturing the demon and bringing her back to the Goddess Tokimi was the only thing on his mind as he pushed his followers through the forest.
* * *
End Chapter Seven.