My daughter is my failure, and not in the way you would think. I failed her
and I am constantly reminded of it every time we come in contact.
She is a lovely girl and I am happy to perform the genetic manipulations
that will turn her eyes back to gold. Black never suited her.
I tell her I received a message from her former...partner, and her son and she smiles sadly and I regret that I couldn't teach her how to be a mother. She reads it, and for a moment considers going back to Jurai. Her son needs her, just as she needed me. But then she shakes her head and asks me if I know any place where she could get a spaceship in better condition. Ryo- ohki is with Tsunami, and the hunk of metal outside won't get her out of this solar system. I give the names of a few dealers known for their quality and she sets out.
"I'll see you later...Washu."
"Sure. I'll see you later, Lit...Ryoko."
She is pleased I forgo the annoying nickname. Later on I receive word that she stole a space ship. I smirk. My daughter was never happy except when she was causing trouble.
I log on to my grandson's webpage and watch his webcam. While not on my level of intellectual capability, Sakito is brilliant and the web is no mystery to him.
Life however, is another matter.
"So yeah, Reizo and I broke up. We didn't fight or anything, he just found someone else he liked better."
He lifts the cigarette to his lips and I can see several scars and a few small burn marks. I hate to think of how he got them.
"Ryoko's gone. I heard about a ship being stolen, but I dunno if it was her. Kamidake won't talk about it and Azaka just shakes his head."
He looks thin. I wonder if he eats enough. Probably not.
"Haven't heard from Washu in a while, but the Science Academy released the info that they've got her scheduled for teaching a couple of courses. Dunno if it's true or not."
It's not. I'm too radical for the Science Academy to offer me a position. Apparently not too radical for them to use my name though.
"This is to LittleBird88, who e-mailed me. My mother is Ryoko who terrorized Jurai some odd millennium ago, and my father is Kamidake, former Knight of Jurai who has, until recently, been in suspended animation for Tsunami knows how long. If you don't believe it, fuck you. Go stick your head in a full gasoline tank and light a match. Might make you look better."
He has his mother's temper.
"Sakito out."
There was a time when I had hoped Sakito might be the force that gave me a link to my daughter. That proved a false hope when she proved herself unwilling to listen to my explanation of my mistakes. She was determined to play the same part I played and drive her child away from her.
My Little Ryoko is a fool. I send an intergalactic message to Tenchi, asking if I could crash on Earth for a few days. He accepts me simply, telling me I'm welcome anytime and that he has good news for when I get there. I could use some good news.
I pack lightly and am in Tenchi's backyard in moments. It hasn't changed much and the first person I see is Yoshou, sweeping the steps. He hasn't changed much either.
"Little Washu." The greeting is warm and I give a fake smile in return.
"Things haven't changed much around here. Never quite understood why you like this dull little planet so much."
He smiles and glances around. "It has its charm. I've always appreciated tranquility."
Tenchi and Urura are going to have a baby. Tenchi is grinning from ear to ear when he tells me the news and I try not to let him see how jealous I am.
They're having a girl. Tsunami is going to give a whole new meaning to the term 'Godmother'. Tsuki-chan is due in eight Earth months.
Later that night, I make my way to the shrine. Somehow the icy machines inside my lab refuse to give me comfort, which is odd. I've given myself worth by creating my machines, they are my definition.
For the first time in several thousand years, when I look at the sky I see stars, not constellations. The little dots of light illuminate the sky and set most beautiful backdrop against the shrine. It's odd, I was around when those stars were created, but I think this is the first time I've ever really seen them.
Yoshou was right, this planet does have its charm.
My sobs must have wakened him, because I feel myself guided into the old priest's living quarters. He sets me down on a cushion and goes about fixing tea. It's amazing how comforting a hot cup of tea can be.
"Would you care for some more?"
"No thank you."
He settles himself down and pours himself another cup of tea. For a while we just sit quietly and enjoy the heat and silence. I can't tell what he's thinking, but I'm thinking about my daughter.
He breaks the silence by asking me if I would like to watch the sunrise with him. He says it turns the sky a lovely golden rosy colour and that I shouldn't miss it. I shrug and say yes. If I'm appreciating the beauty of the stars I might as well appreciate the sunset as well.
It is a gorgeous sunrise and I find myself once again crying. Imagine, former goddess and greatest scientific mind in the galaxy, crying her eyes out on some backwater little planet.
Then again, thinking that way might have led to my alienation from Ryoko. Even when she was returned to me, I was always so busy with my inventions that my attempts to be her mother always seemed like I was trying to play house. I was too wrapped up in myself and my inventions to do anything except whine about how she never talked to me.
The sunrise is over and morning is here. Yoshou and I settle on the grass, still not speaking. I close my eyes and feel a warm breeze play across my face, it's been too long since I've felt that. I think I've spent too long in my lab, without my children. After a while, Yoshou goes into the house and brigs back sushi and fruit. I eat it for the comfort of eating, not because I'm hungry.
Midday is hot and my hair goes limp. Yoshou gives me a drink of water and it is the best thing I've ever tasted. The sun gets in my eyes and I nap for a few hours.
I stay outside the whole day and do nothing except think. And it feels pretty good to do so. I treat myself to a wondrous sunset and a little more stargazing, then I tell Yoshou my plans.
I can't hide on Earth and I can't let Sakito ruin his life. After a few days spent telling Tenchi how not to raise children, I'm back on Jurai, looking for my grandchild and his father.
It's not hard to find them, but it will be hard for either of them to accept me. Kamidake barely knows me and Sakito doesn't seem to want contact. I decide to check with Azaka to see how things are doing.
It's fairly obvious he's going blind, but he politely refuses my offer of medical assistance and I don't press the issue.
"I could give you back your eyesight."
"No, old men such as myself need to accept their age. Besides, you have other things to attend to."
"Well, the offer's on the table."
"My thanks."
Let it not be said that Jurian warriors don't know how to treat a lady. Azaka escorts me to a hotel, as staying at his home would be most improper, and tells me everything he knows about the situation with Sakito and Kamidake.
It is not good. Still, I'm immortal, I have all the time I need to fix things. And I do intend to fix things. Ryoko and I will never truly be mother and daughter, but it is possible that we can connect to Sakito and through him. That's my hope anyway. I've screwed up a lot in my life, but I'm not planning on messing this up.
Author's notes- Everything, save original characters, belongs to Pioneer. Brief explanation- Washu has always seemed to me to be kind of sad, she can create a time traveling machine, but she can't connect with her daughter. This is sort of my way of showing that all hope isn't lost for her and that she doesn't have to be lonely. For the record, the pairing of Kamidake and Ryoko isn't my favorite either, but for the sake of character development Tenchi had to choose someone else and Ryoko had to stop defining herself based on how other people see her. Kamidake is a canon character who could provide a possible basis for a relationship. He's useful and I've always liked people with auburn hair, having the trait myself. Yes, I'm shallow, I know.
I tell her I received a message from her former...partner, and her son and she smiles sadly and I regret that I couldn't teach her how to be a mother. She reads it, and for a moment considers going back to Jurai. Her son needs her, just as she needed me. But then she shakes her head and asks me if I know any place where she could get a spaceship in better condition. Ryo- ohki is with Tsunami, and the hunk of metal outside won't get her out of this solar system. I give the names of a few dealers known for their quality and she sets out.
"I'll see you later...Washu."
"Sure. I'll see you later, Lit...Ryoko."
She is pleased I forgo the annoying nickname. Later on I receive word that she stole a space ship. I smirk. My daughter was never happy except when she was causing trouble.
I log on to my grandson's webpage and watch his webcam. While not on my level of intellectual capability, Sakito is brilliant and the web is no mystery to him.
Life however, is another matter.
"So yeah, Reizo and I broke up. We didn't fight or anything, he just found someone else he liked better."
He lifts the cigarette to his lips and I can see several scars and a few small burn marks. I hate to think of how he got them.
"Ryoko's gone. I heard about a ship being stolen, but I dunno if it was her. Kamidake won't talk about it and Azaka just shakes his head."
He looks thin. I wonder if he eats enough. Probably not.
"Haven't heard from Washu in a while, but the Science Academy released the info that they've got her scheduled for teaching a couple of courses. Dunno if it's true or not."
It's not. I'm too radical for the Science Academy to offer me a position. Apparently not too radical for them to use my name though.
"This is to LittleBird88, who e-mailed me. My mother is Ryoko who terrorized Jurai some odd millennium ago, and my father is Kamidake, former Knight of Jurai who has, until recently, been in suspended animation for Tsunami knows how long. If you don't believe it, fuck you. Go stick your head in a full gasoline tank and light a match. Might make you look better."
He has his mother's temper.
"Sakito out."
There was a time when I had hoped Sakito might be the force that gave me a link to my daughter. That proved a false hope when she proved herself unwilling to listen to my explanation of my mistakes. She was determined to play the same part I played and drive her child away from her.
My Little Ryoko is a fool. I send an intergalactic message to Tenchi, asking if I could crash on Earth for a few days. He accepts me simply, telling me I'm welcome anytime and that he has good news for when I get there. I could use some good news.
I pack lightly and am in Tenchi's backyard in moments. It hasn't changed much and the first person I see is Yoshou, sweeping the steps. He hasn't changed much either.
"Little Washu." The greeting is warm and I give a fake smile in return.
"Things haven't changed much around here. Never quite understood why you like this dull little planet so much."
He smiles and glances around. "It has its charm. I've always appreciated tranquility."
Tenchi and Urura are going to have a baby. Tenchi is grinning from ear to ear when he tells me the news and I try not to let him see how jealous I am.
They're having a girl. Tsunami is going to give a whole new meaning to the term 'Godmother'. Tsuki-chan is due in eight Earth months.
Later that night, I make my way to the shrine. Somehow the icy machines inside my lab refuse to give me comfort, which is odd. I've given myself worth by creating my machines, they are my definition.
For the first time in several thousand years, when I look at the sky I see stars, not constellations. The little dots of light illuminate the sky and set most beautiful backdrop against the shrine. It's odd, I was around when those stars were created, but I think this is the first time I've ever really seen them.
Yoshou was right, this planet does have its charm.
My sobs must have wakened him, because I feel myself guided into the old priest's living quarters. He sets me down on a cushion and goes about fixing tea. It's amazing how comforting a hot cup of tea can be.
"Would you care for some more?"
"No thank you."
He settles himself down and pours himself another cup of tea. For a while we just sit quietly and enjoy the heat and silence. I can't tell what he's thinking, but I'm thinking about my daughter.
He breaks the silence by asking me if I would like to watch the sunrise with him. He says it turns the sky a lovely golden rosy colour and that I shouldn't miss it. I shrug and say yes. If I'm appreciating the beauty of the stars I might as well appreciate the sunset as well.
It is a gorgeous sunrise and I find myself once again crying. Imagine, former goddess and greatest scientific mind in the galaxy, crying her eyes out on some backwater little planet.
Then again, thinking that way might have led to my alienation from Ryoko. Even when she was returned to me, I was always so busy with my inventions that my attempts to be her mother always seemed like I was trying to play house. I was too wrapped up in myself and my inventions to do anything except whine about how she never talked to me.
The sunrise is over and morning is here. Yoshou and I settle on the grass, still not speaking. I close my eyes and feel a warm breeze play across my face, it's been too long since I've felt that. I think I've spent too long in my lab, without my children. After a while, Yoshou goes into the house and brigs back sushi and fruit. I eat it for the comfort of eating, not because I'm hungry.
Midday is hot and my hair goes limp. Yoshou gives me a drink of water and it is the best thing I've ever tasted. The sun gets in my eyes and I nap for a few hours.
I stay outside the whole day and do nothing except think. And it feels pretty good to do so. I treat myself to a wondrous sunset and a little more stargazing, then I tell Yoshou my plans.
I can't hide on Earth and I can't let Sakito ruin his life. After a few days spent telling Tenchi how not to raise children, I'm back on Jurai, looking for my grandchild and his father.
It's not hard to find them, but it will be hard for either of them to accept me. Kamidake barely knows me and Sakito doesn't seem to want contact. I decide to check with Azaka to see how things are doing.
It's fairly obvious he's going blind, but he politely refuses my offer of medical assistance and I don't press the issue.
"I could give you back your eyesight."
"No, old men such as myself need to accept their age. Besides, you have other things to attend to."
"Well, the offer's on the table."
"My thanks."
Let it not be said that Jurian warriors don't know how to treat a lady. Azaka escorts me to a hotel, as staying at his home would be most improper, and tells me everything he knows about the situation with Sakito and Kamidake.
It is not good. Still, I'm immortal, I have all the time I need to fix things. And I do intend to fix things. Ryoko and I will never truly be mother and daughter, but it is possible that we can connect to Sakito and through him. That's my hope anyway. I've screwed up a lot in my life, but I'm not planning on messing this up.
Author's notes- Everything, save original characters, belongs to Pioneer. Brief explanation- Washu has always seemed to me to be kind of sad, she can create a time traveling machine, but she can't connect with her daughter. This is sort of my way of showing that all hope isn't lost for her and that she doesn't have to be lonely. For the record, the pairing of Kamidake and Ryoko isn't my favorite either, but for the sake of character development Tenchi had to choose someone else and Ryoko had to stop defining herself based on how other people see her. Kamidake is a canon character who could provide a possible basis for a relationship. He's useful and I've always liked people with auburn hair, having the trait myself. Yes, I'm shallow, I know.