Offical Pre-chapter Rant: Well, not really much to say. I'm back and I'm learning a few things. Hope you all like...
Washu sat comfortably and serenely within the unexpectedly opulent surroundings of the Masaki Shrine. Apparently 700 some years of careful investing offered a respectable supplement to the shrine keeper's income. Not to mention having the additional donations and assistance from a grandson with an outrageously successful career placing artist's pen to paper. The popular manga, which recreated the madness of Tenchi's teen years, provided for additional creature comforts normally not afforded to the typical Shrine priest. Washu nodded her head as she looked around and made herself more at home. Yosho's mature sensibilities and refined tastes subtly manifested themselves in the soothing tones and harmonious simplicity of the furnishings and artwork.
Yosho felt a mild sense of pride as he noted Washu's approving nod. Yes, Tenchi's career had allowed the older Masaki male's discriminating taste to spend far more lavishly since her last visit to the shrine. It had been a matter of discretion to allow the two younger adults their "play time" as Washu had so glibly termed it. And now sitting comfortable with the companionable silence of a friend, Yosho was rather thankful to the lusty pair.
"So Ms. Washu how has academia treated you and yours thus far?" Yosho deep voice softly questioned as he gently pondered the idly swirling vortices of his tea.
"If you are asking about how my classes are going? Then my answer would be very well, until your appearance. If you are asking about how my tenure is going? Then the answer would be exceedingly well, despite your appearance. If you are asking about how my daughter's classes are going? Then my answer would have to be as well as can be expected. And lastly, if you are asking about how my daughter's tenure is going? Then again, my answer would have to be as well as can be expected."
Yosho raised a questioning brow but made no utterance to inquire further. Washu took this as an opportunity to gather her thoughts, realizing that just as before, Yosho would never push for private details but instead patiently wait for the other to share what they were capable of. Taking a soothing sip of her tea, Washu momentarily ignored the implied question. How to explain their life? How to explain all that Ryoko had been through? How to explain that Ryoko was now a mother and she herself was now a grandmother?
Yosho watched intently but not overtly as emotions and doubts flashed across Washu's face. What exactly had happened to the pair after they had left? He realized that Ryoko had most probably undergone extreme alteration, not just physically but mentally as well. But, upon closer regard Washu had also undergone a great change. The woman that sat across from him easily wore her adult form.
Now comfortable with the taller body and different perspective, Washu no longer wavered from adult to child like the flicker of a candle's flame. Her new form outwardly reflected an approximate age of the inner woman's comportment. Somehow Washu had come to terms with her past and her pain. Yosho could not help the faint smile as he felt a sliver of almost fraternal pride beam straight to his heart. Washu had evolved greatly. In some manner or another triumphing over her own personal demons to help mend Ryoko's fragile state.
Washu released a great sigh, took another sip of her tea and then lifted her eyes to Yosho's. Once her eyes settled on his, she returned the warm smile and calmed her fears. "Ryoko has a daughter…" Washu blurted out the statement before she could stop herself.
Yosho's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline as he coughed and sputtered out the mouthful of tea he had attempted to swallow. "What?" Came the croaked reply.
"Ryoko had a daughter, I have a granddaughter." Washu said firmly and calmly.
"But how?" Yosho said before the words could be stopped. Placing his cup down and taking a moment to collect himself, Yosho prepared himself mentally for any and all possibilities.
"Simple really. After we left here, we sort of floated through space for a while. Ryoko really had no idea where she wanted to go, and I had no better place to be than by her side. So we drifted from place to place, finding honest work from time to time as was needed." Yosho tilted his head slightly to the right in question but said nothing. "We… that is Ryoko was afraid you would try and trace us… that is Jurai would try and trace us if we accessed any of my accounts. So we scraped by surviving off of the money that we could earn until Ryoko finally felt safe enough to use my money."
"We continued drifting for a few more months, not really knowing where we were going to end up. That is until I received an open invitation to return to my tenured post at the Academy. It was a goddess sent blessing. Ryoko was beginning to flounder and Ryo-ohki was starting to develop some very interesting peculiarities that needed to be adjusted." Washu took a moment to sip her tea again then looked to Yosho. Realizing Washu was waiting for his acknowledgement to continue he nodded.
Another great sigh and then she continued, "Well, after a great discussion which with Ryoko as you can imagine was actually more like a tamed battle… we finally agreed to simply stay for a few months just to 'feel out' the campus. It wasn't long before Ryoko was attending classes and excelling beyond even my wildest expectations. She's smart you know?" Washu beamed proudly her head lifting slightly higher and her back straightening the slightest of infinitesimal amounts.
Yosho's smile widened, it was so nice to see Washu finally taking her role as Ryoko's mother seriously. No, Yosho thought. Not finally, more like at last she is able to reveal this side of herself openly. Years ago Yosho had sensed this deep maternal need within the petite redhead, but knew that years of pain split daughter from mother burying such emotions under deep regret and sorrow. But now at least this one relationship in Ryoko's life had found completion and repair.
Nodding again for Washu to continue Yosho waited patiently as the redhead finished her tea and set down her mug. "Well, after Ryoko graduated… in the same amount of time as I, no less. Some of the other professors from our department and myself rallied behind her to support her acceptance into the academy's faculty. It wasn't an easy battle; we had to fight all the stereotypes and fears that everyone had against her. But with the help of a well-placed word from your mother and the secret confidence of the imperial crown, she eventually earned her post. She's a very dedicated professor and is deeply devoted to her students. Often she stays well past her personal schedule allows assisting a floundering student."
"I know I'm deliberately avoiding answering a great question but I promise I will answer that… eventually. Anyways, she's finally managed to achieve a fair amount of acceptance within the academic community and if the rumors I've heard recently are to be believed she will obtain tenure shortly. That's Ryoko's life professionally in a not so compact nutshell. Now, for her personal life… as you've seen she's changed her outward appearance. That decision wasn't one made quickly or easily. It takes a lot of energy for her to exert enough power and control over her cells to create such a radical exterior change. Since she was neither designed nor created to be a chameleon the ability for such a talent is not inherent within her nature. While it is true that Ryoko can change minor outward appearances such as clothes, that isn't a matter of cellular modification so much as a talent for quick changes."
Washu chuckled idly, "I swear the girl invented tear away clothing eons before male strippers thought to add Velcro to their inseams… but that's neither here nor there." Washu chuckled some more as Yosho's cheeks blushed a gentle coral and the man coughed slightly to cover his discomfort. "As I was saying, it took Ryoko months to finally decide on a form that was still as much a reflection of the person she was as it was a reflection of the person she was becoming. It took one entire false gem worth of energy to create the change and even the slightest thought of reversion will return her back to her previous state. Age appropriate of course, but still everything that has changed would return back."
Washu saw the flicker of hope and understanding in Yosho's eyes. "Yes, that's why she flickered to her original state for a moment back there. I was fairly certain, seeing Tenchi and being back here would have that effect on her. But it didn't stick though. I wonder what it will take to get her to completely revert. This new appearance is not her neutral state. But I have to admit it is nice seeing my likeness in her as greatly as I do."
"Now for her daughter, the billion dollar answer of the day. As you recall I mentioned some peculiarities with Ryo-ohki. Well, those peculiarities first arose while we were all living here. But they were so slight I never once bothered to notice them. It wasn't until we were drifting around in space and both Ryoko and I continued to feel depressed, alone and neglected that we wondered why. When it dawned on us that Ryo-ohki was the source of the emotions we immediately set out to figure what might be upsetting the cabbit."
"I logically assumed it was simply a matter of missing Sasami and the rest of the family. That was a great oversimplification of the situation. Ryo-ohki was never developed to evolve beyond the parameters of ship/pet. Gaining a new form added an additional complexity to her OS. Her original specifications and parameters were simply overwhelmed by this increased complexity. Her neural matrices and core programming were pretty much overwritten by the emotions gained from merging with the masu construct. What evolved out of the fray was pretty much a true infant mind. When Ryo-ohki chose her child-like form, it wasn't simply a matter of wanting to resemble Sasami, like we had all assumed. But instead a reflection of her true mental state."
Yosho was enthralled, he deftly refilled Washu's mug with piping hot tea and waited patiently for her to continue. "By the time Ryoko and I sensed Ryo-ohki's emotional complexity, she was already well beyond repair. To alter her back to her original state was to kill the child she was. Ryoko and I searched our hearts and our minds and found we could indeed accept this new person into our lives. Not that we really had much of a choice. We already loved her."
"With a few modifications the ship portion of Ryo-ohki was splintered off. The consciousness of the system immediately reverted to the original simplistic OS without the, for lack of a better term, human complexity of Ryo-ohki's mind. It was simply a matter of generating well placed programming safeguards with the new ship/pet to prevent the creation of a sibling and now Ryo-ohki is her own little girl. Around the same time we settled into collegiate life. Ryoko attended classes at night so she could mother Ryo-ohki during the day, while I taught during the day so I could baby-sit Ryo-ohki at night. It worked surprisingly well."
"Ryo-chan was an adorable child. She was precocious and curious, with a strange penchant for swallowing shiny objects. You ever try keeping the coin of the realm away from the chubby curious hands of a toddler? Especially one with an adorable frown? It's quite impossible. Just when you think you can harden your heart, she would pout and suddenly against your will you found yourself giving her the coin anyways. The thought would cross your mind that as long as you watched her carefully she would be fine. But it never made a difference. She always managed to crawl away and then in that one second she escaped your sights, she'd swallow the coin."
"There was a time, Ryoko use to threaten to use her as a maraca. It was quite hysterical and I felt slightly vindicated for all the times I was called out of class to attend to something Ryoko had caused. Ryoko learned that the mother's curse works the day Ryo-chan first attended school. The poor child must have swallowed every coin in the classroom change jar. In the ER the doctors were all taking bets on how many Jurai Ryo-chan could make change for." Washu was now out right cackling.
Yosho shook his head he could only imagine how horrified Ryoko must have been to encounter such a sight. He remembered his days with Achika and her penchant for eating dirt. The childish quirk had seemed beyond comprehension let alone resolution. He could only imagine how an instant parent like Ryoko would have coped.
Gathering Yosho's thoughts from his steady features, Washu continued on. "It took her a long time to break Ryo-chan of the habit. Just between you and me… I don't think she's completely broken the habit. Even now at the ripe old age of 17 I still, from time to time, catch Ryo-chan gazing longingly at coins. I think the girl is just afraid of what would happen to her if her mother ever found out. But Ryo-chan has grown up remarkably well all things considered. She has a boyfriend, an adorable young man by the name of Setsuna. He's simply too sweet for words and he's completely in love with her."
"Ryo-chan has made her mother and I very proud. She happily considers me her grandmother and I cannot fault her. I love her for in my heart she truly is my granddaughter. Ryoko is a loving, adoring, giving and patient mother. I hope you don't mind but she looks at you as her great grandfather. What few memories she has of her time here are golden to her and she has categorized everyone into his or her own familial role. Sasami her older sister, Ayeka her aunt, Mihoshi the crazy cousin that everyone still loves, Noboyuki her grandfather and Tenchi of course as her father."
"She doesn't see herself as having 'divorced' parents, but rather parents that are separated because of work related demands. She even has Tenchi's odd sense of taste in comedy. You realize I have your family to blame for the havoc his sense of humor has reaped upon our little trio, right? The only quirk to remain with the cabbit was Tenchi's sick sense of humor. For years, it became almost a rite of passage to suffer through the annual 'Python-fest'."
"I bet you didn't realize that my granddaughter elevated her personal comedic fixation into a campus tradition. Every year, the students come together in the last days of class before the summer respite and watch movies and whole seasons at the outdoor theater. An archaic film projector clatters away while hundreds of students sit on the grass enthralled. Staring slack jawed and almost drooling its like their brains become vacuous bulbs. It's sorta sad really, every year the crowd grows larger and larger as the surrounding celestial community flock to the late night showings of rampant silliness. This last year students left the film fest singing 'The Lumber Jack Song'. It was kind of disturbing since there were a few male students running around wearing high heels, garter belts and bras. For a moment I felt like I had been sucked into an American cult phenomenon… 'Rocky Horror Picture Show'."
Yosho was vaguely familiar with the film having heard random reports throughout the years about the nation across the seas affinity for the bizarre ritual. Washu noticed the near lack of comprehension on Yosho's face, "Remind me to loan you my audio-visual documentation on the topic of Rocky Horror. If nothing else it will give you an insight into the weirdness of North America. But that's beside the point. I must admit to you that I'm worried about how Ryo-chan will react when she meets everyone again. I don't want to lose the little girl that I've grown to love. There's no telling what kind of effect meeting up with everyone will have on her."
Yosho watched as Washu shrugged then took another quiet sip of her tea. "I am sure you have nothing to worry yourself over. You mentioned during our conversation here that she has a true sense of self. There is no reason for her to lose the person she is now once she is reunited with everyone else." Yosho looked at Washu for a moment. "So you realize that Jurai will be arriving shortly." It was less a question than a statement.
Washu decided to still treat it as a question and nodded her head. "Yes, I knew the second I saw you with Ryoko that there was no way Jurai would ignore such an incident. I'm sure within the next three or so days the entire gang to include Mihoshi will be gathered again. I was never naive enough to believe that Jurai hadn't kept tabs on us, but it did shock me that you would know where to find us."
Yosho nodded understandingly. "Why me? Why not Tenchi?"
Washu swallowed her mouthful of tea then spoke up. "Yes, why you?"
"Do you think Ryoko would have listened to Tenchi? Considering the level of hostility that she vented at me, I cannot imagine her actually having paid attention to him long enough for him to get his point across. It would have been more honest to send Tenchi, but it was necessary to sent me. We both know Tenchi would have found some way to verbally shatter this one chance if he had been given the opportunity. That is why you both had to come here. I know my grandson well enough to know that in his imagination, he has told her countless times all that his heart longed to. But the setting was always here. Always where he was most comfortable and most sure of himself. Not light years away at an intergalactic university."
Washu nodded in acceptance, yes if Tenchi had been the one to meet them at the Science Academy it would have been a complete fiasco. Not only would he have been flabbergasted by Ryoko's appearance but also the change in venue would have greatly rattled his confidence. And besides the return to the Masaki home had made Ryoko much more receptive to Tenchi words, the house alone having its own effect. Suddenly Washu looked up, Ryo-chan just arrived.
Yosho's eyebrow rose slightly when Washu perked up. Temporarily returning her attention to Yosho, mouthed Ryo-chan's name then looked away distractedly again. Yosho nodded quickly and began quietly sipping his tea knowing that Ryo-chan was not suppose to have arrived until she was retrieved. Washu sensed Ryo-chan's curiosity the instant the girl slipped through the door connecting the lab to the household. The girl wasn't supposed to have arrived yet. She wasn't even supposed to be running loose. Ryo-chan still had classes to attend. Then a muted beeping sounded off and Washu summoned her holo-laptop with a familiar flourish of dexterous fingers. Washu's smile grew as her lab sensors informed her of Setsuna's arrival. Returning her focus back to Yosho Washu shared the knowing smile of grandparents.
"Well, shall we return to the house? I am most curious to see how Ryo-ohki has grown." Yosho smiled at Washu, sharing in the private joke that all grandparents enjoy. Rising gracefully from his seated position Yosho offered his hand, easily lifting Washu from her place on the floor. With amicable silence the pair ambled back towards the house.
Emerging from behind the broom closet door, Ryo-ohki quietly tiptoed here way into the Masaki house. It seems so much smaller than I remember it… Looking around that the familiar and yet somewhat strange surroundings Ryo-ohki smiled. The mild clatter and grumbling that arose from behind her tore Ryo-ohki's attention away from the surroundings. "Shhhhhh, Setsuna… we're not suppose to be here yet, I don't think that either mom or grandma sensed me…" Ryo-ohki whispered to the stumbling young man behind her.
Setsuna for his part mumbled a few rather unsavory words under his breath as he fumbled out of the pile of power cords and extension cables that had appeared out of nowhere to trip him up. Looking around to the room outside Setuna secretly smiled. Here he was, in the childhood home of his little Ryo-chan. Following behind Ryo-chan into the house Setsuna took in the new environment. The furniture was comfortable and sensible. There was a definitely masculine décor to the rooms he could see.
Ryo-chan walked further into the room and simply allowed the memories to flood her. Turning quickly she grabbed Setsuna's hand and dragged him into the living room. There she pointed up at the rafters, she remembered those rafters… the nights spent cuddling with her mom, listening to her mom's heartbeat and gentle breathing. So many memories all so very long ago…
Setsuna watched as Ryo-chan's eyes softened and began to tear. Gently he lifted a hand to her face and used his thumb to brush away the lone shimmering dewdrop of recollected sadness as it fell from mellifluous golden eyes. Slowly Setsuna pulled his hand from Ryo-chan's grasp and placed his arm around her shoulders. Pulling the girl into his embrace Setsuna was slightly confused by the burgeoning tears.
Ryo-chan for her part could not understand why she was crying. This house was full of happy memories. Times of laughter and family surrounded her, ringing their joyous notes of delight in her ears. So why was she crying? And why did she long for her mother?
Setsuna placed his other hand to the back of Ryo-chan's head and gently pushed her face to his shoulder. Holding her and caressing her hair as the girl in his arms cried. He didn't understand why or what for, but he knew she needed him and he would stand rooted to the spot for eternity if she wanted.
Ryo-chan pressed her cheek into Setsuna's shoulder and let the tears fall. Tears of loss, tears of regret and tears of pain… all the tears she longed to cry all those years ago. Her hands weaved their way across Setsuna's back to clasp tightly at his shirt as her tears began to soak a darkened patch on his left shoulder. She had missed this place, missed the people… no, not the people… she had missed her family. A quiet sob for family and precious moments lost, Ryo-chan unburdened her sadness further into Setsuna's embrace.
And he held her. Quietly whispering words of adoration and pressing comforting kisses to her forehead, Setsuna tried to soothe away the tears. He loved her and was proud to finally be by her side when she needed him. For so long it had always been Ryo-chan, his darling, little Ryo-chan that stood nobly by his side and defended him. After so many years of friendship and caring, he was glad that if only once, he was allowed this one moment to protect her.
Ryoko slowly came to consciousness, her mind fuzzy with sated content. She could sense Washu's mind pressing for attention. Deliberately ignoring her mother's call, Ryoko snuggled further down into the warm, comforting strength of the arms around her.
ARMS?
Ryoko shot up, sitting perfectly perpendicular to the bed. Eyes wide with shock as memories and comprehension slowly crept their way into her still sluggish brain. Turning her head slowly Ryoko watched as the body next to hers grew from feet to legs, from legs to chest and from chest to a mass of unbound hair. Oh holy friggin cabbit shit… … …
Ryoko reached out a tentative hand to part the mound of black hair that covered the face of the man? Ryoko looked under the blanket and gulped… yes definitely a man, lying next to her. A soft mumble of her name and the man rolled to his side and pulled her against him. Ryoko squeaked… I didn't do what I think I did… did I? Swallowing hard, Ryoko prepared herself for the inevitable knowledge that she was still hoping desperately to deny.
Please don't be Tenchi…Please don't be Tenchi… Please don't be Tenchi… The mantra repeated over and over in her head as she finally touched the soft black silk. Her fingers halted in their attempt to reveal in order to caress the luxurious stands. Once her fascination with his hair ran its course Ryoko gently parted the stands over his face and saw the face of the only man she would ever love.
Terror, joy, anger, happiness, fear, hope, and sadness all fought for dominance within her confused mind. Too shocked to do much more than gape Ryoko remained still within the relaxed embrace of a sleeping Tenchi. Occasionally he would mumble her name, the words "love you" and a soft sigh would slip past his lips but otherwise he was silent.She didn't know what to do. How could she have simply fallen right into his arms? How could she have simply returned back to that love struck girl from so many years ago? How?
And as the questions cluttered her mind and blinded her from the world around her, Tenchi watched her. Awake from the moment Ryoko began stirring to wakefulness, Tenchi watched as one emotion after the other ran rampant across her confused beautiful face. He knew she didn't think he was awake, but he also knew that the second she thought he was awake he would lose her warmth. So choosing to hold onto the moment for as long as possible, Tenchi pretended to roll in his sleep and wrapped his arms around her again.
He almost laughed at her surprised squeak. It was cute. He would have to remember to get her to make that sound much more often. That was a thought for the future, once their problems and her doubts were solved and answered. But until then he would enjoy her loving warmth. Mumbling her name and brokenly muttering his love, Tenchi snuggled into her side.
Ryoko was too shocked. After all these years, a few moments into their reunion and she was already in the sack. Self-reproaching anger rose on hellacious wings. How could she have done that? How could she have simply forgotten all the pain and anger? Did the rejection, the time apart, the suffering mean nothing?
Ryoko gave a derisive snort… of course it hadn't. Nothing held a candle to Tenchi. What hope had there ever been for her broken heart when faced with the one person it longed for? She could lie to herself all she wanted to but there was no avoiding the obvious, she did, would always and forever love Tenchi. But was her love for him enough to mend the wounds and the pain? Tenchi's hand softly caressed her side, stroking loving fingers over supple skin quickly banishing Ryoko's concerns.
Ryoko decided to ignore her doubts and fears and simply enjoy her time with Tenchi before reality's cruelty stole away the moment. Poking Tenchi in the side, Ryoko wasn't fooled by the sleeping act. "You can open your eyes now, I know you're just faking it." Ryoko waited semi-patiently as Tenchi pretended to awaken. She had to smile. For so long she dreamt of this moment, lying in his arms feeling for once in her life safe and loved. As rich chocolate eyes settled on her face Ryoko's smile widened. She had missed him. Missed his smile, missed his face, missed every single nuance about him. But most of all she had missed his eyes.
Even now, all these years later they held her. Stole her breath away and clutched at her heart. She felt whole and complete within the loving radiance of his gaze. While staring at him longingly she promised herself that for now, for this one moment she would be the loving girl she always wished to be. In this sheltered haven, this cocoon of time she would live her fantasy of loving and being loved by Tenchi.
Tenchi saw it. The love was still there, the longing, the heat, the passion, the lust, and all the joy for life that had claimed his heart more than a decade ago was still deep within her eyes. He could feel her surrender and it called to him. A part of him realized that this was only for this moment. If he were only to know true happiness for this one blessed moment then he would take all he could grab and treasure it for the rest of his life. If this moment was all she could offer him, then he would accept all she could give.
Ryoko cuddled further into his arms. Losing herself to dreams long ago buried. And just as easily as the dreams surfaced, they were lost to the clenching fear of a mother. Ryoko sensed Ryo-chan's distress long before the tears fell from the girl's eyes. Rising with the swiftness of parental fear, Ryoko easily forgot Tenchi and their moment of love in favor of her daughter's sadness.
Racing down the stairs on swift feet, Ryoko rushed to comfort her child. It wasn't until Tenchi's hoarse shout reached her ears that Ryoko remembered to phase into clothes. Reaching the last landing Ryoko skidded recklessly towards the room where Ryo-chan was tearfully caught up in memories. Placing loving arms around Ryo-chan, Ryoko comforted her daughter. The memories were all so overwhelming. Fear, love, anger, sadness… it was all there. Not just Ryo-chan's but Washu's and Ryoko's emotions as well, all jumbled in a maddening vortex of calamity. Ryoko held her daughter, as Ryo-ohki's sobs grew more violent.
"Will she be okay?" Tenchi's concerned voice broke the stillness of the room. All three turned as one to the man entering the room. And with his presence the final fissure in the damn burst. It was too much for Ryo-ohki, the emotions from Ryoko's tortured heart tore away at what little strength Ryo-ohki had.
A softly whispered, "Tenchi?" was all that Ryo-ohki could manage before she fainted into her mother's fierce embrace. A matter of seconds later Washu and Yosho came through the front door. Washu raced to Ryoko's side and Yosho stood next to Tenchi faintly startled by the change in Ryo-ohki and at the obviously worried maternal apprehension on Ryoko's face.
Washu's hand lifted to Ryo-ohki's forehead pushing bangs out of the way as she kissed her granddaughter. Solemn emerald eyes lifted to firmly regard hazel. Ryoko nodded in agreement. Quietly three generations of women left for their reclaimed bedrooms. Ryoko carrying her unconscious daughter and Washu walking beside her daughter arm across Ryoko's shoulders.
Setsuna watched as all three ladies left. Confusion easily wrinkling his brow as his thoughts circled around a single question, Where are they going? Turning dark aqua eyes to the two gentlemen left standing in the room, Setsuna silently questioned them. Maybe they knew where the trio was going and what to do next.
Yosho smiled slightly at the young man's concern. Clearing his throat with a quiet cough, Yosho began making introductions. "Hello young man, I am Yosho Masaki and this is my grandson Tenchi. Welcome to Earth, I am gathering that this is your first time on the planet." Yosho waited patiently for the young man to nod his russet colored head. When Setsuna timidly nodded, Yosho continued. "Do not concern yourself overly much at Ryo-ohki's actions. Returning to this house and the memories that it holds has been a shock, not just for her but also for the other members of her family. It is simply a matter that the elder two ladies have had years of hiding their emotions, whereas Ryo-ohki has never had a need to do so. I also believe that it was not simply her own emotions that were influencing Ryo-ohki's reaction, but instead the combined emotional response of all three ladies. She was simply overwhelmed."
Tenchi shook his head with each word out of his grandfather's mouth, Setsuna seemed more confused and worried. Lifting an understanding hand to the young man's shoulder Tenchi patted him gently. "What Grandpa means is she'll be fine, she just needs some rest. It was a shock to visit here again after such a long time away."
Yosho mentally scowled at Tenchi, the boy was not a simpleton. If the youth were one, Washu would not have allowed the close bond between Ryo-ohki and Setsuna to form. Shaking his head at Tenchi's oversimplification of the matters at hand, Yosho wisely chose to ignore his grandson's actions. Instead he calmly invited the young man to tea. Wincing momentarily as blue-green eyes wavered as, Setsuna hovered indecisively between racing to Ryo-chan and accompanying the senior man. Finally with a resigned nod Setsuna gave a watery smile and followed Yosho to the kitchen.
Tenchi quietly followed behind both men, wondering idly if he had ever been as obviously lovesick as the young Setsuna. Shaking his head, Tenchi reasoned he must have been, for in the end no one in the family had been surprised by the truth but rather by his course of actions. Was I really that naïve and idealistic? A quiet sigh slipped from unguarded lips as Tenchi's mind wandered back to the past.
Yosho glared at his grandson from behind his ever-present glasses. From the look on the youngest Masaki male's face, Yosho could tell Tenchi was reliving his past. Glare intensifying, Yosho knew now was not the time for Tenchi to be riddling himself over the past, but instead to look to the future. There would be more guests arriving shortly and the house would need much work done if it was going to be ready for such a number of visitants. Offering a seat at the banquette Yosho kindly handed a brimming cup of hot tea to the auburn headed man as he gingerly sat down on the stool.
Catching his grandfather's glare Tenchi straightened his shoulders and focused his attention on the newest member to a rapidly growing redefining family. Tenchi easily made idle conversation with Setsuna, questioning the adolescent about his life and acquaintance with the Hakubi women. The young man eventually relaxed as his cup of tea and recounted memories transferred his attention from Ryo-ohki. Tenchi nodded companionably, smiling and occasionally laughing at the tales that Setsuna shared.
Yosho watched as the two men sat comfortably conversing. Tenchi's demeanor and honest curiosity quickly directed Setsuna's focus, helping to calm the previously fidgety boy. Mutely chuckling to himself, Yosho smiled at the resemblance between the two men. Though neither held even the faintest physical similarity to each other, Setsuna was for all intents and purposes a younger version of Tenchi.
The kindly smile changed to rueful as Yosho realized that the calm confidence that Setsuna easily portrayed would have been Tenchi's had matters and relationships evolved differently. Focusing his attention on Setsuna, Yosho watched the young man. Keen eyes noticed the obvious signs of affection when the boy referred to Ryo-chan. Bright aqua eyes would darken slightly as ebony pupils dilated minutely. Golden cheeks would flush faintly. The boy was definitely in love. Yosho chuckled amicably along with Tenchi as Setsuna's story reminded him of the Ryoko of old.
Finally with a grand sigh Yosho rose from his stool feigning stiff joints and tired muscles of age, he excused himself. Tenchi lifted an enquiring eyebrow as he watched his normally spry grandfather leave with the mock gate of the elderly. When his grandfather was past the kitchen door, Tenchi returned his attention to Setsuna. The two resumed their conversation, effortlessly settling back into an almost familiar camaraderie.
Yosho quickly walked to the stairs and made his way to the room where three generations of Hakubi women were ensconced. With a light knock on the door Yosho announced his presence before entering. A quick glance around the room told him much but left several questions unanswered. Looking to Ryoko, Yosho questioned her first, "How is the young Ryo-ohki?" Concern easily shading his voice a deeper tone than usual.
Ryoko's eyes lifted to his swiftly conveying her lack of distress. Smiling kindly at Yosho she answered simply, "Doing better, just tired."
Yosho nodded his head and turned to look at Ryo-ohki. The girl was so changed and yet still had remained the same. The face now more humanoid, ears less lapin… yes so much had changed with the girl that Yosho momentarily felt lost as to what to say. Before doubt could befuddle him, Yosho made up his mind to treat the youngest Hakubi the same as before. Walking closer to the bed, Yosho lifted eyes to Washu silently asking for permission. The simple nod was all the consent he needed. Lowering gracefully to kneel beside the bed, Yosho brushed a gentle hand across the girl's cheek. Smiling softly at the girl, he absentmindedly noted the fact that downy soft skin had replaced fur.
A stifled sigh and fluttering eyelashes were the first signs that Ryo-ohki was coming to. Blinking her eyes open the young girl slowly focused on the ceiling above her. It wasn't the right color for her room. Where was she? Momentarily frightened Ryo-ohki shuddered then gasped as a warm hand caressed her cheek. Turning her attention to the hand at her face, Ryo-ohki followed the wrist up to the arm, and the arm up to the body. Looking up into the face of a man she once thought she'd never see again, Ryo-ohki burst into action. "Grampa!" The word was a loving yet hoarse shout as young arms wrapped securely around Yosho's neck.
Momentarily startled by the outburst, Yosho fumbled backwards as the force of Ryo-ohki's momentum carried them to the floor. At a loss as to what to do, Yosho awkwardly placed one hand on the back of the girl's head and the other around her waist. Then as muffled words of loss filtered through quiet tears, parental instinct kicked in. Quietly shushing tears away with promises, Yosho's husky voice quickly pacified the new onslaught of tears.
Finally when she was more composed Ryo-ohki lifted her face from Yosho's shoulder and smiled. A dazzling brilliant smile, full of hope and innocence, at least that's what Yosho thought. Like watching the sun burst forth from behind the mountains, simple astounding. May the heavens forgive him for feeling so blessed, but he had doubted he would ever see the smile of his first great-grandchild. And now in his arms was the girl that easily gave flight to all his hopes for his family. Not just Tenchi and Ryoko, but for Ayeka and the rest. Ryo-ohki would help mend the years of broken hearts. Returning her smile Yosho began telling Ryo-ohki all that she had missed out on while she was away.
And on the bed sat Ryoko and Washu, stunned into silence. Ryo-ohki never talked this much. Turning from the sight of Ryo-chan and Yosho, Washu and Ryoko looked at each other then back at Ryo-chan and Yosho. Shaking their heads and smiling, they both rose from their seats on the bed and walked over to the pair on the floor. Sat down and joined in the conversation. So there, in the bedroom, sitting on the floor, four members of a large family shared stories of their time apart and made promises for the future.
Washu laughed as she thought one more time… Here we go again…
Post chapter Rant: Well another down and now just got a buttload more to do. So as always... read, review if you like... if not, I'll still keep writing. My ego is rather inflated these days so I'll just keep on posting one way or another. Anyhoo, I'm actively seeking betas again... something about being inactive for nearly a year tends to cause my betas to disappear.