Legal Disclaimer:
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 10: Epilogue
Ryouko sleepily carried her luggage down to the lobby, a suitcase hanging in each hand. Tenchi walked along side of her in the same fashion, his head nodding as he struggled to stay awake. He and Ryouko had spent the majority of their remaining vacation in bed. They had spent the time mostly resting as the two tried to sleep off their exhaustion from the battle with Masamitsu.
Three days had passed since the battle. Masamitsu and his men were being held, some in the hospital, the others at Galaxy Police Headquarters as they awaited their trials. Kiyone and Mihoshi had offered to escort some of them to the Galaxy Police themselves after the battle was over. In addition, Funaho and Misaki had ordered a news briefing on the situation, along with a press conference concerning Ryouko. Tenchi and Ryouko had slept straight through it's airing.
Washu had spent the majority of the remaining vacation researching the data she had accumulated during the battle. She was looking into how Ryouko had called her gems to her, how their powers became welded together, and who was behind Masamitsu to begin with. So far, she had made no progress. It was as if she was close, always on the brink of discovery, but for all of her technology and intelligence, the answer continued to elude her.
::I think I need a vacation from my vacation.:: Tenchi thought to Ryouko.
::You're telling me?" Ryouko chided back at him.
Arriving in the main lobby, they were greeted by the rest of the girls. Attendants were carrying suitcases upon suitcases of luggage to a waiting car outside. Mihoshi was half asleep, leaning on Kiyone's shoulder. Aeka and Washu were reclining in the over sized chairs and Sasami and toddler form Ryo-ohki were chasing each other through the lobby.
Everyone stood at attention as the Princess's parents approached them to bid their farewells. Misaki began making her rounds, crushing each and every one of them into bear hugs as she wept at their departure. Poor Ryo-ohki hung limply in Misaki's arms as she crushed her in her hold.
Funaho clasped her hands before her and began to speak. "It seems as though the press conference that was aired about the situation and Ryouko was a success. Hopefully you will not have to suffer such prejudices again, Ryouko."
Everyone smiled as Ryouko bowed her head slightly. "Thank you." She said proudly.
Misaki wiped tears out of her yes. "I'm going to miss you all so much!" She wailed at everyone.
"Aeka." Everyone turned to see a gruff looking Asuza calling for his eldest daughter. "Follow me, there is something I wish to speak to you about."
Aeka nodded and looked down at the ground as she followed her father down the hall as the others watched her leave. She followed a few feet behind her father in silence. Finally, they came to a door that he pushed open and she followed him in and closed the door behind them.
Asuza sat in a plush chair in the middle of the sparsely decorated room and motioned for Aeka to sit across from him. Aeka did as she was asked, never once actually looking at her father.
"Aeka." He said, a great sigh escaping his lips. "I am expecting you to come back to Jurai as soon as possible. The time for play is now over and you have lingered on that backwater planet far too long. It is time for you to complete your training and take your place among the royals."
Aeka looked up into her father's emotionless eyes. "But father, I-"
"But nothing!" Azusa's tenor voice boomed through the room. "You have ignored my wishes for far too long. As the Crown Princess of the Jurian Empire, it is time for you to act your age and perform your duties. Do not disappoint me, Aeka."
Aeka looked down at her feet, examining the floor below her as he crimson bangs covered her tear filled eyes. She bowed curtly and exited the room quickly. Once outside, she turned her back to the room and rested her back against the wall, biting her lip to keep her tears in check.
* * *
"Sasami, It'll be soooo nice to get back home so you can cook again!" Ryouko sighed. She was leaning against a tree, feeding Tenchi pieces of popcorn. His head lay in her lap, his body sprawled out on their blanket. Everyone was gathered under the trees in the atrium of the Ryu-oh on their way back to planet Earth.
Washu was leaning against a tree, her holotop up before her, mindlessly pressing keys as the readouts on the screen flashed before her eyes. Ryo-ohki and Mihoshi were playing catch with a beach ball, happy "miya's" escaping Ryo-ohki's mouth from time to time. Kiyone was curled up on a blanket next to Mihoshi, reading a novel as she snacked on a bag of chips. Sasami was busy gathering assorted empty snack wrappers. Aeka sat on her knees on a blanket near the creek. Not paying attention to the activities around her, she stared off into the artificial sky.
Sasami smiled at Ryouko. "I'll be happy to be able to cook for everyone again. I really miss being home. Don't you Aeka?"
After Aeka didn't respond, Sasami asked, "Aeka-oneechan, what's wrong?"
Aeka snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh, nothing, Sasami. I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"I asked you if you missed being home." Sasami repeated herself.
Aeka took a moment to think to herself. 'Home...' She wondered.
Before she could answer, Mihoshi dropped the ball that her and Ryo-ohki had been tossing, and it hit the pitchers of water that had been set out, knocking them over and getting water all over the blankets and the snacks, not to mention Kiyone.
"Cold!" Kiyone yelled, dropping her book and jumping up as she pulled her cold, wet shirt away from her body, ice cubes dropping onto the ground as she hopped up and down.
Washu leaned back against her tree, laughing wildly and pointing her finger at Kiyone. Too late did she realize her mistake as Mihoshi, in her efforts to help Kiyone, knocked over the pitcher of lemonade next to Washu, spilling the cold, sticky liquid into her lap.
"Cold!" Washu cried, jumping up and through her holotop display, hopping from foot to foot as ice cubes fell out of her shorts. Aeka, Sasami and Ryo-ohki were milling around Kiyone and Washu trying to help them clean up.
Tenchi and Ryouko took the chance to sneak away, giggling as they walked down the forested path hand in hand. The artificial sunlight cascaded through the canopy of the trees above, leaving dappled blotches of light and dark on the ground beneath. The sound of the babbling brook to their right was calming and soothing as they began to put their vacation behind them and prepared to start their future together.
Coming to the edge of the atrium, they stood before a view port, watching the stars float by in the depths of space. Far off in the distance, cloudy shades of blues and purples marked a galaxy's birth. Ryouko stood in front of Tenchi and he wrapped his arms around her waist, cradling her into him as he leaned his head on her shoulder.
::Whatcha' thinking about, Tenchi?:: Ryouko asked.
::Just about what it's going to be like, being home, starting college, our future.:: He responded.
Ryouko tipped her head back into his shoulder, the light of a passing star reflecting in her amber eyes. ::I'm looking forward to it.:: She happily thought to him.
Tenchi smiled, tipping his head toward her to lay a light kiss on her lips before responding, ::So am I, Ryouko. So am I.::
* * *
End Wings of Change: Part One
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 10: Epilogue
Ryouko sleepily carried her luggage down to the lobby, a suitcase hanging in each hand. Tenchi walked along side of her in the same fashion, his head nodding as he struggled to stay awake. He and Ryouko had spent the majority of their remaining vacation in bed. They had spent the time mostly resting as the two tried to sleep off their exhaustion from the battle with Masamitsu.
Three days had passed since the battle. Masamitsu and his men were being held, some in the hospital, the others at Galaxy Police Headquarters as they awaited their trials. Kiyone and Mihoshi had offered to escort some of them to the Galaxy Police themselves after the battle was over. In addition, Funaho and Misaki had ordered a news briefing on the situation, along with a press conference concerning Ryouko. Tenchi and Ryouko had slept straight through it's airing.
Washu had spent the majority of the remaining vacation researching the data she had accumulated during the battle. She was looking into how Ryouko had called her gems to her, how their powers became welded together, and who was behind Masamitsu to begin with. So far, she had made no progress. It was as if she was close, always on the brink of discovery, but for all of her technology and intelligence, the answer continued to elude her.
::I think I need a vacation from my vacation.:: Tenchi thought to Ryouko.
::You're telling me?" Ryouko chided back at him.
Arriving in the main lobby, they were greeted by the rest of the girls. Attendants were carrying suitcases upon suitcases of luggage to a waiting car outside. Mihoshi was half asleep, leaning on Kiyone's shoulder. Aeka and Washu were reclining in the over sized chairs and Sasami and toddler form Ryo-ohki were chasing each other through the lobby.
Everyone stood at attention as the Princess's parents approached them to bid their farewells. Misaki began making her rounds, crushing each and every one of them into bear hugs as she wept at their departure. Poor Ryo-ohki hung limply in Misaki's arms as she crushed her in her hold.
Funaho clasped her hands before her and began to speak. "It seems as though the press conference that was aired about the situation and Ryouko was a success. Hopefully you will not have to suffer such prejudices again, Ryouko."
Everyone smiled as Ryouko bowed her head slightly. "Thank you." She said proudly.
Misaki wiped tears out of her yes. "I'm going to miss you all so much!" She wailed at everyone.
"Aeka." Everyone turned to see a gruff looking Asuza calling for his eldest daughter. "Follow me, there is something I wish to speak to you about."
Aeka nodded and looked down at the ground as she followed her father down the hall as the others watched her leave. She followed a few feet behind her father in silence. Finally, they came to a door that he pushed open and she followed him in and closed the door behind them.
Asuza sat in a plush chair in the middle of the sparsely decorated room and motioned for Aeka to sit across from him. Aeka did as she was asked, never once actually looking at her father.
"Aeka." He said, a great sigh escaping his lips. "I am expecting you to come back to Jurai as soon as possible. The time for play is now over and you have lingered on that backwater planet far too long. It is time for you to complete your training and take your place among the royals."
Aeka looked up into her father's emotionless eyes. "But father, I-"
"But nothing!" Azusa's tenor voice boomed through the room. "You have ignored my wishes for far too long. As the Crown Princess of the Jurian Empire, it is time for you to act your age and perform your duties. Do not disappoint me, Aeka."
Aeka looked down at her feet, examining the floor below her as he crimson bangs covered her tear filled eyes. She bowed curtly and exited the room quickly. Once outside, she turned her back to the room and rested her back against the wall, biting her lip to keep her tears in check.
* * *
"Sasami, It'll be soooo nice to get back home so you can cook again!" Ryouko sighed. She was leaning against a tree, feeding Tenchi pieces of popcorn. His head lay in her lap, his body sprawled out on their blanket. Everyone was gathered under the trees in the atrium of the Ryu-oh on their way back to planet Earth.
Washu was leaning against a tree, her holotop up before her, mindlessly pressing keys as the readouts on the screen flashed before her eyes. Ryo-ohki and Mihoshi were playing catch with a beach ball, happy "miya's" escaping Ryo-ohki's mouth from time to time. Kiyone was curled up on a blanket next to Mihoshi, reading a novel as she snacked on a bag of chips. Sasami was busy gathering assorted empty snack wrappers. Aeka sat on her knees on a blanket near the creek. Not paying attention to the activities around her, she stared off into the artificial sky.
Sasami smiled at Ryouko. "I'll be happy to be able to cook for everyone again. I really miss being home. Don't you Aeka?"
After Aeka didn't respond, Sasami asked, "Aeka-oneechan, what's wrong?"
Aeka snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh, nothing, Sasami. I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"I asked you if you missed being home." Sasami repeated herself.
Aeka took a moment to think to herself. 'Home...' She wondered.
Before she could answer, Mihoshi dropped the ball that her and Ryo-ohki had been tossing, and it hit the pitchers of water that had been set out, knocking them over and getting water all over the blankets and the snacks, not to mention Kiyone.
"Cold!" Kiyone yelled, dropping her book and jumping up as she pulled her cold, wet shirt away from her body, ice cubes dropping onto the ground as she hopped up and down.
Washu leaned back against her tree, laughing wildly and pointing her finger at Kiyone. Too late did she realize her mistake as Mihoshi, in her efforts to help Kiyone, knocked over the pitcher of lemonade next to Washu, spilling the cold, sticky liquid into her lap.
"Cold!" Washu cried, jumping up and through her holotop display, hopping from foot to foot as ice cubes fell out of her shorts. Aeka, Sasami and Ryo-ohki were milling around Kiyone and Washu trying to help them clean up.
Tenchi and Ryouko took the chance to sneak away, giggling as they walked down the forested path hand in hand. The artificial sunlight cascaded through the canopy of the trees above, leaving dappled blotches of light and dark on the ground beneath. The sound of the babbling brook to their right was calming and soothing as they began to put their vacation behind them and prepared to start their future together.
Coming to the edge of the atrium, they stood before a view port, watching the stars float by in the depths of space. Far off in the distance, cloudy shades of blues and purples marked a galaxy's birth. Ryouko stood in front of Tenchi and he wrapped his arms around her waist, cradling her into him as he leaned his head on her shoulder.
::Whatcha' thinking about, Tenchi?:: Ryouko asked.
::Just about what it's going to be like, being home, starting college, our future.:: He responded.
Ryouko tipped her head back into his shoulder, the light of a passing star reflecting in her amber eyes. ::I'm looking forward to it.:: She happily thought to him.
Tenchi smiled, tipping his head toward her to lay a light kiss on her lips before responding, ::So am I, Ryouko. So am I.::
* * *
End Wings of Change: Part One