Disclaimer: I don't own anything, never will, don't sue, I'm poor, yada yada, my work, don't steal, get permission, give credit, blah blah.
WARNING! Read at own risk! May have swears and other 'taboo' subjects.
Other than that, read on McDuff...
Of Dreams and Reality
Chapter 4
"The Morning After"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A dim ray of light from the overcast sky forced its way into Tenchi's room, softly illuminating his face as he stared at the texture of the ceiling above. The ticking of the clock sounded like a drum through the stillness, dutifully noting the seconds, as they seemed to slowly pass into the next. The dark circles under the young man's eyes told of countless hours of sleeplessness and inner torture, damning him to a night of tossing and turning.
Tenchi struggled to comprehend the tangled web that was his life and the impact of the events that had taken place just yesterday. Every question left unanswered came back to haunt him, leaving him weary, drained of emotion and strength, as if the whole universe had somehow opened up its very core an dumped every bit of unwanted suffering upon him. What had he done that was so wrong for him to deserve this, what had Sasami done? Was his existence merely to be the marionette of some sadistic being, to be twisted and tugged into so many directions that his own force of will couldn't save him? Or was this entirely his own fault, the product of untold years or indecision and sheer incompetence.
Tenchi rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands, a vain attempt at clearing his mind of uninvited thoughts as well as the reminder of the day to come.
How could he face the girls today after all that had transpired, feeling that familiar twinge of guilt mixed with anger strike through his heart? Guilty that he was the cause of all their bickering and sorrow, angry at their selfishness and lack of understanding.
And so he lay there, pondering what he should do about the two women and what their outburst had done; destroyed part of his home and most importantly, the injury of little Sasami. It was well known that he regarded them all as his extended family, but there was no excuse for what had taken place and thus endangering the life of the young princess.
The scene from that afternoon kept playing over and over in his mind, like a record player stuck between two uncooperative grooves. Suspicion pushed its way through the fog in his head as he remembered seeing Ryoko, her body draped over the little girl beneath her. It didn't seem to be the outcome of one of their bitter squabbles regarding his heart, but with those two, who could be sure.
Tenchi had thought long and hard about what to do about the girls, and sooner or later it would all come down to brass tacks. He didn't want to lose any of them, but if things kept going the way they were heading, the possibility of making them leave would become a definite reality. Although his life seemed dull and meaningless before the girls had arrived, it now felt like an eternal struggle for survival, having only but a short reprieve before the whole scenario would play itself out again.
Slowly, Tenchi raised himself into a seated position in an attempt to get up and begin his day, a day that he was sure was not going to go well at all. A deep foreboding clung to him, a feeling that he couldn't shake no matter how hard he tried, pulling him back into the unsettling thoughts that had stolen him away from possible slumber that entire evening.
He hadn't made much headway in learning what exactly happened between the two women, as his questions were either answered with scowling faces, tears or ignored altogether. And that was just Aeka's reactions. Tenchi had seen neither hide nor hair of Ryoko since that afternoon, and this bothered him quiet a bit. He had gone to look for her after dinner, checking the many places she was known to frequent when she wanted to be alone, only to be met with darkness and the biting cold of an early winter.
Even with his concerns for the other girls, the young male was more worried about the youngest of his houseguests, Sasami. The image of the poor child lying in a puddle of water and blood was seared into his memory. Washu had stated that she would be fine, but it didn't make it any easier to deal with. It was a miracle to him that she had escaped with minor injuries, knowing the powers held by both Ryoko and Aeka, Sasami could have easily been seriously hurt, or even worse, had been killed because of their negligence.
Tenchi looked down and noticed he was clutching his comforter in a white knuckled grip, a testament to his anger regarding the situation. Yes, he was angry with them, angry that both women were responsible for the youngest princess's state, regardless of who started it and whatnot.
With much hesitation Tenchi released the covers, his grasp leaving a multitude of wrinkles in the blue fabric as he tossed it aside. Tenchi scrutinized his bedding with a look of disgust. Where he once looked at it as a sanctuary from the everyday hustle and bustle, he now saw it as a punishment of sorts.
If life during his waking hours was disturbing, Tenchi's state of peaceful repose (when one was able to achieve it) was nothing less than an indescribable hell. Since his return from the alternate universe, all he could dream about was her and the love that never was bet felt undeniably real within every fiber of his being. And he hated it; hated being mentally chained to an apparition as lovely as Haruna. Still, he couldn't hold it against her; the woman who so desperately wanted to lead the life she craved and felt she deserved, but was denied so long ago. He pitied her in a way, and waited her just as much. Tenchi didn't mind, well...kind of. Reenacting the few precious moments they had shared together before the illusion was gone seemed a welcome retreat from the constant war that plagued his conscious life, embracing the world he himself had created in peaceful lucidity. However the knowledge of never having her in reality hurt almost as much as the truth itself; feeling that she had used him for her own selfish purpose was almost consuming.
Again, Tenchi rubbed his hands against his face, determined to rid himself of the haze of a sleepless night and the thoughts that inundated him, but again it didn't help.
"A normal life, that's all I've ever wanted" he told himself as he let his arms drop to his sides, bracing himself as he turned to the side so that his feet settled onto the cold, hardwood floor.
"Why can't I have a normal life?" he asked himself as he gazed out of his bedroom window. Tenchi hardly took notice of the soft white flakes of snow that had been falling from the sky, covering the earth below so that the landscape was almost unrecognizable as the towering trees stood along side the house, wearing nothing but their winter's best.
'Is it fate? Am I destined to live a life where every aspect of it is predetermined by some greater power?' the young Masaki continued to question. The very idea that Tenchi was nothing more than a pawn was once again both disturbing and anger provoking. There had to be more to his life than what was already laid out for him.
With laggard movements, Tenchi rose from his bed and schlepped over to his closet, the muscles in his neck and back aching from lack of proper rest as well as from the anxiety of his undesirable circumstances, making him feel older beyond his years. Where he once learned to accept his position, he had now grown to dislike it.
Tenchi continued to ponder his situation while gathering his bathing supplies, determined to get in a nice soak in the bath alone before anyone else had the chance to do so. He had asked himself many times why he didn't take control, either by leaving himself or by sending the girls out on their own, at least he could live as he wanted, without interruption or havoc. He just didn't have the guts to act upon it. Whether it be because he would truly miss them, or because he had promised Aeka, he had stayed and let them continue on there.
After collecting all that he needed, Tenchi quietly slid the door open, letting a small breeze of cool air create goosebumps on his exposed skin. He stuck his head out into the hall, listening intently to hear if anyone was up and bout. The house seemed rather empty and silent, definitely not like it usually was, and Tenchi found thins quite unsettling. He had become accustomed to the smell of Sasami's cooking and the sounds of others preparing for the day, but it was still rather early, even for him, and there would be no sweet aromas coming up from the kitchen today. He had to remind himself that the resident genius had ordered the young princess to bed rest for the remainder of the week.
Finding that everything was clear, Tenchi slowly exited his room and with tender footing, made his way down the hall. Maybe a little hot water and steam would help clear his mind.
--------
It was rather dark in the laboratory of the greatest scientist who had ever lived in the known universe, as the light of morning wasn't able to penetrate due to its subspace existence. The only signs of life were that of the low humming sounds emitting from the many instruments housed within, and of course the mild snoring of one red-headed genius.
There in the dimly lit recesses of her lab was Washu, slumped over one of the consoles used to monitor several large containment tubes, a small spattering of drool collecting on the corner of her gaping mouth and beginning to pool onto the equipment.
It had been a long, harrowing night for the diminutive scholar, who had spent most of the evening trying to contact her daughter to find out exactly what she had done to upset the eldest princess. Washu was quite aware of Ryoko's numerous successes when it came to pissing off the Jurian, and knew of Tenchi's attempts of pleading with them to stop their quarreling, to no avail. But still, something about the whole affair seemed out of sync, and so she had to talk to Ryoko so that she could get her side of the story, just as she had done with Aeka.
Unfortunately, her attempts proved fruitless as the former pirate had blocked their shared link, and all surveillance equipment failed to establish the woman's whereabouts. Sometimes Washu regretted having endowed her creation with such a vast array of abilities; especially the power to simply disappear and remain undetected.
And so it came to be that the scientist kept busy, keeping to heart the old adage 'idle hands are the devil's playground'. If she thought too hard about the scuffle that had nearly killed the culinary wonder, it would have only made for one giant headache.
So in true form, Washu had decided to keep herself busy with the one thing that she loved, science, only to find herself thinking back to the conversation between her and the eldest princess. Something just didn't fit and she was determined to find out for sure what was going on.
After a while, the diminutive woman unwillingly succumbed to the world of dreams, her work station now becoming an impromptu sleeping area as her head rested on the control panel while her arms hung limply at her sides.
Washu was jarred awake from her unexpected nap by a rather loud beeping noise coming from behind, causing her to almost fall off her hovering cushion. She turned her head in the direction of the disturbance, silently berating herself for falling asleep in the midst of important scientific research. Summoning a sub-dimensional pocket, Washu extracted a tissue to wipe away the saliva that had accumulated on her face and equipment, and promptly disposed of it into another portal as she headed towards the alarm.
A bit too weary to perform the necessary task manually, she began giving commands verbally to nobody in particular.
"Computer, activate vocal command program 8276. Password: MechaWashu"
After several quick tones, a deep male mechanical voice replied to the scientist's request.
Vocalization and password confirmed. Program activated. Good morning
Professor Washu.
"Computer, what's with all the racket?" she demanded haughtily.
Incoming interstellar communication. Status: Urgent
"Well patch it through!"
Within seconds, a distorted image of a flustered teal-haired woman with dark-blue eyes emerged on a holographic screen. The insignia on the uniform as the image blipped in and out through the static told Washu that it was Kiyone, appearing to be screaming incoherently into her console as the distortion impaired both the sound as well as the picture.
Experiencing interference due to unstable weather patterns. Attempting comm-link reconfiguration the voice said in a banausic tone.
"Switch to a secure channel." Washu called out irritably. A deep yawn escaped her lungs, a reminder of just how tired she really was. She made a mental note, citing that she would have to forego any experiments tonight and get some much-needed rest.
After several seconds, the image had improved greatly, relieving some of the frustration between both the officer and the scientist.
Proper alignment complete. came the monotone announcement.
Before the bleary-eyed, egotistical genius could say a word, Kiyone blurted out what she had been trying to say.
"Washu, I need your help..."
-----------
Well inside a modest home sheltered deep within the Okayama Prefecture, two men sat at the center of a newly renovated kitchen; one of great age and wisdom, the other of average maturity and burdened with the stresses of deadlines. Both knew full well the changes that had taken place amongst their extended family, however neither of them cognizant of just how much more was about to take place.
Katsuhito sat at the reconstructed island that occupied the spot where it's predecessor once stood, quietly sipping his tea as the first light of the clouded dawn forced it's way through the windows. Before him sat his only son-in-law, content in flipping through his morning paper, a piece of half-eaten toast and a small cup of coffee close by.
"According to this, we're in for some harsh weather this afternoon." Nobuyuki stated, pointing to a weather report on one of the pages. He looked over at the window to gaze outside, taking note of the already falling snow. "Looks like we got a few inches already."
The elder responded with only a slight nod, holding the earthen mug between his asperous hands. The light sound of creaking floorboards alerted him to his grandson's rise. No matter how many people occupied the house, he could always distinguish between him and the girls, a definite advantage from his days as a trained warrior and Prince of Jurai.
"Tenchi's up rather early, must've had a rough night." Katsuhito spoke matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, I heard him get up several times last night. He must be pretty worried about what happened. Maybe I should have a talk with him."
"I wouldn't worry about it. He'll pull through, just as he always has. He is much stronger than you give him credit for."
Nobuyuki said nothing as he folded his paper, placing it next to what he considered to be his breakfast. Picking up his coffee cup, he silently mourned the absence of Sasami's wonderful cooking skills. He always thought she needed a day off or two, he just wished it hadn't required such an unfortunate event to do so.
With a deep sigh, Tenchi's father arose from his seat and walked over to the new room that Washu had added, marveling at its grand simplicity. Nobuyuki felt very lucky to have such a gifted as well as intelligent woman residing in his home. It helped save the family's finances quite a bit as he didn't have to dole out any cash towards building supplies and laborers, not to mention the insurance premiums that sky rocketed the last time the girls decided to rearrange the walls. Still, he hoped that whatever had the girls at odds with each other, it would soon come to an end. It didn't calm one's nerves to know that their home was a virtual battlefield.
Nobuyuki absentmindedly scratched the back of his head, much like his son would do when confronted with certain situations. He had thought that after Tenchi's return that the bickering had stopped, at least the destructive part, as they had seemed to realize at the time that their constant fighting was in part their fault for his disappearance. But yesterday was yet another example of good things never lasting for very long. Maybe, just maybe, some things couldn't be resolved between the two women, but what ever it was, it was lost on him.
Just as Katsuhito was about to join his younger counterpart in the unique structure that was now a part of their home, the creaking of the closet door beneath the stairs caught the elder's attention.
"It's a bit early for Washu to be up. Mihoshi's not awake, is she?" the older man mused, knowing full well about the incident that had taken place between the detective and the genius just yesterday.
Nobuyuki was about to reply to his father-in-law's remark when Washu crossed the threshold between the living room and kitchen, a serious look furrowing her child-like brow.
"Lord Yosho," Washu began, her voice eerily calm. "I need to speak with you and the others."
"What is it, Miss Washu? Is something wrong?" asked the shrine keeper.
The diminutive woman simply looked at him, her eyes conveying something that filled his heart with dread. It had to be very serious if she was calling him by his Jurian title, something nobody in the house ever did.
Without saying a word, the Shinto priest did as he was directed, stolidly heading for the stairs to awaken the rest of the house.
-------
The First Crown Princess of Jurai's Royal Family plodded unceremoniously into the living room, a far cry from the usual disposition befitting a woman of her station, and understandably so. Having only ten minutes in which to properly dress and groom as per her brother's request was unheard of in Aeka's book, especially when one was still recovering from last night's over consumption of Washu's special sake. It was only with sheer will that the princess was able to make herself even remotely presentable, all the while having felt like her skull was being hammered on from the inside out.
From behind Aeka, Sasami emerged, complete with Ryo-Ohki perched between the child's two light blue ponytails. The sight of Sasami and the cabbit would have been considered by most a Hallmark moment, only the little princess's expression was far from being just that. Her usually bright pink eyes were downcast, accentuated by dark circles, and her shoulders were slumped low in a posture of implied defeat. To look at her in such a manner would make anyone feel pitiful condolence, insinuating she had lost a close pet or something worse.
Both Aeka and Sasami took their places on the large wine-colored sofa, patiently waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. Hesitantly, the older of the two surveyed the room to see who had come and who had not. Tenchi sat alone on the matching loveseat on the far right side of the room, and this relieved the princess somewhat. Usually that immoral demon would teasingly sit ever so close to him, declaring the piece of furniture as the Masaki/Hakubi marriage throne and then punctuate her outrageous claim with an equally egregious display of affection for Tenchi, much to the dismay of the poor man. Thankfully Ryoko was nowhere to be seen for the moment.
Aeka cringed, both at the thought of that rogue beast molesting Lord Tenchi and of the hangover that lingered more ferociously than before. Washu approached the Jurian woman with a look of concern, and with as much secrecy as she was able to accomplish at the moment, handed Aeka a small yellow pill and a glass of water.
"This will take care of that nasty headache." the little genius whispered rather quietly into Aeka's ear, causing the future Empress to flinch as the sound of Washu's voice felt like a primal scream rather than a soft murmur.
With much effort, Aeka accepted the items from her, having known from Ryoko's past experiences with excessive alcohol intake that this would help alleviate her pain. The violet-tressed princess gingerly placed the pill on her tongue and promptly took a small sip of the water, hoping that this would quickly deliver her from the perils of her distress.
Aeka placed the glass ever so gently onto the table in front of her and resumed her assessment of the situation. Behind Tenchi stood her brother Yosho and his daughter's widower. Whereas Nobuyuki looked just as perplexed as some of the others, Yosho's expression spoke both volumes and yet, at the same time, spoke nothing at all. His wrinkled brow holding the same look as he had all those centuries ago, before he went to fight the demon Ryoko, before he disappeared from her life without so much as a backward glance.
Aeka's recollection of her brother before his disappearance caused her head to reel as if her hangover had returned with a vengeance. Her instincts told her something wasn't right, and Yosho's deceptively withered face reflected the same.
Deep inside she prayed that it wasn't that serious, at least to her. Maybe the pirate had actually gotten the idea for once that she was no longer welcome, fleeing into the infinite depths of space. It would please her greatly if Ryoko had done just that, but as the concept of the woman's departure hung in her mind, she couldn't help but feel a tremendous pang of guilt and self-contempt grow from deep inside. Yes, they were most definitely two different sides of a broad spectrum, and their history would leave even the most hardened of souls grieve for her pain. But even with all of that, she had held some hope for the pirate. After all, they had just begun to learn to tolerate each other, and even at one time, albeit brief, would even consider the other a friend. But still, the fresh reminder of yesterday's episode lingered, and her hatred for the cyan-haired bully manifested itself once again.
She would just have to wait and see.
Mere inches away from the silently brooding Aeka, Mihoshi sat on the floor, watching the room and the people around her, waiting patiently for the meeting to begin. Her blonde, curly hair hung loosely around her shoulders (a sight which had never been seen by anyone in the house), framing her exceptionally dark skin beautifully.
The detective was well aware of the comments some of the girls had made about her hair and skin, ranging from light humor to outright cruel. But despite it all, Mihoshi forgave them for their ignorance, accepting them all for their own faults as well as her own. After all, that's what family did, forgive each other.
As she looked upon the people gathered together, the detective couldn't help but feel lonely inside. She missed her partner greatly; believing Kiyone to be the only one amongst them whom she felt even remotely understood her. Sure the teal-tressed officer would continually chastise her for even the smallest of indiscretions, but she knew that Kiyone only meant to look out for her, as no one else at the Academy would even try. With her partner's absence, she felt vulnerable to the attacks and prejudices of others. Oh how Mihoshi wished she were here.
"Hey, where's Ryoko?" Noboyuki questioned. "Shouldn't she be here?"
"She'll be along later," Washu answered, paying no mind to the evil glare Aeka was giving Tenchi's father.
Washu headed for the door that once housed the small broom closet and grasped the handle, taking a brief moment to glance at the group as they watched her every move, anticipation hanging heavily in the air.
Without another thought, the gifted redhead opened the closet door, allowing everyone in the area to see what the genius had in store for them.
Mihoshi shot up into the air, an ear-piercing shriek escaping her lungs. Everyone recoiled at the blonde's reaction, instinctively ducking as the officer attempted to run at the figure standing in the threshold between the lab and the living area. Unfortunately, in Mihoshi's state of excitement, she temporarily forgot about the coffee table that blocked her path. With a loud crash, her face made contact with the floor.
"Ouch..."
--------
In the infinite depths of space, Kirito, the royal ship of Emperor Azusa, continued through the stars. Entering into what is commonly known as the Sol System on its intended destination accompanied by the Karin and several smaller crafts.
Inside the enormous bridge of the Karin, a large tree (not unlike the space tree overlooking the lake by the Masaki shrine) stood amongst a lush backdrop of extravagant flora, surrounded by a maze of waterways for which to keep the habitat properly maintained.
The two wives of the Emperor, Funaho and Misaki, gazed out of the transparent dome that both provided protection from the vacuum of space and allowed them to peer out into the beauty of the galaxy. The two queens, whose usual demeanor where both elegantly poised and deceptively effervescent (respectively), held somber expressions as they stood beside each other. Neither of them really wanting to breach the subject at hand, yet very much aware of the situation and what it meant for their family as well as the empire they governed.
A young man wearing a uniform, similar to those being worn by Detectives Kiyone and Mihoshi, came upon the two women, bowing deeply in a show of proper respect. The man righted himself and proceeded to inform them of why he was there.
"Your Highnesses, we've detected an outgoing transmission emanating from the Yagami. Should we inform the Emperor?"
"That will not be necessary, Captain Ishio" answered Funaho, bowing slightly. "Emperor Azusa has much more pressing business at the moment and should not be bothered by such frivolities, wouldn't you agree?"
The captain's evergreen eyes reflected his bewilderment, but held his tongue. He knew better than to question the Queen about such matters, and instead quietly agreed.
"Thank you, Captain. And please remember that I wish to be informed of anything you encounter on this voyage. I do not want my husband to be disturbed. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, your Highness." Ishio replied as he nodded once more, although just a bit reluctantly. Again he bowed deeply, and without so much as a second thought, turned swiftly on his heel and left.
"It seems that Kiyone is determined to alert our children of our impending visit." Misaki said flatly as she left her sister/wife's side, the back of her lavishly decorated outer robes rustling ever so softly along the metallic flooring as she made her way to the ship's name sake.
"Yes indeed." her counterpart replied in equal tones, continuing to stare out into the all-encompassing beauty of the galaxy before her.
"What do you think is going to happen, Funaho?"
"I'm not sure, but we can only hope for the best."
-------
High atop the snowy hillside behind the Masaki homestead sat Ryoko, the wind from the oncoming storm blowing large clusters of snow into her wild mane of cyan hair. Her favorite pink and aqua dress was now almost unrecognizable as the flakes began to collect on it as well, making it seem like a white fur coat.
'So much for pity points if they thought I'd freeze to death out here' she thought sarcastically, her hand lightly grazing the very top of the snowy ground.
Ryoko thought back to the matter at hand: the meeting that Washu had called, and the request that she herself should attend, along with the scientist's warning not to jump to conclusions.
Too late. She had a gut feeling that she would be the topic of discussion, no matter who tried to tell her otherwise. Still, Ryoko felt that she had to go. After all, she wasn't going to leave without having something to say about it.
Silently, the cyan beauty phased out of sight, leaving the wintry landscape behind.
Author's notes: Here it is. Sorry to the Miho fans out there, I just had to do it, the chapter seemed too serious. Hope you like it. Again, comments welcome. Thanx to Dudeman for his proofreading, you will be greatly rewarded! A huge smooch to my devoted readers and their undying patience. You're the reason I keep going. Also, I have had more than a few people point out that the OVA and Tenchi Forever are not the same continuities. Like I stated in my first chapter, I did this on purpose. 'Why' you ask? It's simple, creativity holds no bounds for me, so forget about continuities for the time being. In other words: artistic license! :) I do have a side story in the works to explain this little issue (with a dedication at that!), so please be patient.
Chapter 5 is on backorder, but expected to arrive before the holiday season. Again, feedback is VERY appreciated and welcome (except for spam and hate mail, unless you have a great sense of humor. I'm not THAT sensitive.)
Mistress-Ryoko
P.S. BobR, thank you so much for the review. You're a sweetheart! Hope I can continue to receive great praises from you on your site! Don't worry Valdi- I didn't forget about you. :)
SMOOCHES!!
WARNING! Read at own risk! May have swears and other 'taboo' subjects.
Other than that, read on McDuff...
Of Dreams and Reality
Chapter 4
"The Morning After"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A dim ray of light from the overcast sky forced its way into Tenchi's room, softly illuminating his face as he stared at the texture of the ceiling above. The ticking of the clock sounded like a drum through the stillness, dutifully noting the seconds, as they seemed to slowly pass into the next. The dark circles under the young man's eyes told of countless hours of sleeplessness and inner torture, damning him to a night of tossing and turning.
Tenchi struggled to comprehend the tangled web that was his life and the impact of the events that had taken place just yesterday. Every question left unanswered came back to haunt him, leaving him weary, drained of emotion and strength, as if the whole universe had somehow opened up its very core an dumped every bit of unwanted suffering upon him. What had he done that was so wrong for him to deserve this, what had Sasami done? Was his existence merely to be the marionette of some sadistic being, to be twisted and tugged into so many directions that his own force of will couldn't save him? Or was this entirely his own fault, the product of untold years or indecision and sheer incompetence.
Tenchi rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands, a vain attempt at clearing his mind of uninvited thoughts as well as the reminder of the day to come.
How could he face the girls today after all that had transpired, feeling that familiar twinge of guilt mixed with anger strike through his heart? Guilty that he was the cause of all their bickering and sorrow, angry at their selfishness and lack of understanding.
And so he lay there, pondering what he should do about the two women and what their outburst had done; destroyed part of his home and most importantly, the injury of little Sasami. It was well known that he regarded them all as his extended family, but there was no excuse for what had taken place and thus endangering the life of the young princess.
The scene from that afternoon kept playing over and over in his mind, like a record player stuck between two uncooperative grooves. Suspicion pushed its way through the fog in his head as he remembered seeing Ryoko, her body draped over the little girl beneath her. It didn't seem to be the outcome of one of their bitter squabbles regarding his heart, but with those two, who could be sure.
Tenchi had thought long and hard about what to do about the girls, and sooner or later it would all come down to brass tacks. He didn't want to lose any of them, but if things kept going the way they were heading, the possibility of making them leave would become a definite reality. Although his life seemed dull and meaningless before the girls had arrived, it now felt like an eternal struggle for survival, having only but a short reprieve before the whole scenario would play itself out again.
Slowly, Tenchi raised himself into a seated position in an attempt to get up and begin his day, a day that he was sure was not going to go well at all. A deep foreboding clung to him, a feeling that he couldn't shake no matter how hard he tried, pulling him back into the unsettling thoughts that had stolen him away from possible slumber that entire evening.
He hadn't made much headway in learning what exactly happened between the two women, as his questions were either answered with scowling faces, tears or ignored altogether. And that was just Aeka's reactions. Tenchi had seen neither hide nor hair of Ryoko since that afternoon, and this bothered him quiet a bit. He had gone to look for her after dinner, checking the many places she was known to frequent when she wanted to be alone, only to be met with darkness and the biting cold of an early winter.
Even with his concerns for the other girls, the young male was more worried about the youngest of his houseguests, Sasami. The image of the poor child lying in a puddle of water and blood was seared into his memory. Washu had stated that she would be fine, but it didn't make it any easier to deal with. It was a miracle to him that she had escaped with minor injuries, knowing the powers held by both Ryoko and Aeka, Sasami could have easily been seriously hurt, or even worse, had been killed because of their negligence.
Tenchi looked down and noticed he was clutching his comforter in a white knuckled grip, a testament to his anger regarding the situation. Yes, he was angry with them, angry that both women were responsible for the youngest princess's state, regardless of who started it and whatnot.
With much hesitation Tenchi released the covers, his grasp leaving a multitude of wrinkles in the blue fabric as he tossed it aside. Tenchi scrutinized his bedding with a look of disgust. Where he once looked at it as a sanctuary from the everyday hustle and bustle, he now saw it as a punishment of sorts.
If life during his waking hours was disturbing, Tenchi's state of peaceful repose (when one was able to achieve it) was nothing less than an indescribable hell. Since his return from the alternate universe, all he could dream about was her and the love that never was bet felt undeniably real within every fiber of his being. And he hated it; hated being mentally chained to an apparition as lovely as Haruna. Still, he couldn't hold it against her; the woman who so desperately wanted to lead the life she craved and felt she deserved, but was denied so long ago. He pitied her in a way, and waited her just as much. Tenchi didn't mind, well...kind of. Reenacting the few precious moments they had shared together before the illusion was gone seemed a welcome retreat from the constant war that plagued his conscious life, embracing the world he himself had created in peaceful lucidity. However the knowledge of never having her in reality hurt almost as much as the truth itself; feeling that she had used him for her own selfish purpose was almost consuming.
Again, Tenchi rubbed his hands against his face, determined to rid himself of the haze of a sleepless night and the thoughts that inundated him, but again it didn't help.
"A normal life, that's all I've ever wanted" he told himself as he let his arms drop to his sides, bracing himself as he turned to the side so that his feet settled onto the cold, hardwood floor.
"Why can't I have a normal life?" he asked himself as he gazed out of his bedroom window. Tenchi hardly took notice of the soft white flakes of snow that had been falling from the sky, covering the earth below so that the landscape was almost unrecognizable as the towering trees stood along side the house, wearing nothing but their winter's best.
'Is it fate? Am I destined to live a life where every aspect of it is predetermined by some greater power?' the young Masaki continued to question. The very idea that Tenchi was nothing more than a pawn was once again both disturbing and anger provoking. There had to be more to his life than what was already laid out for him.
With laggard movements, Tenchi rose from his bed and schlepped over to his closet, the muscles in his neck and back aching from lack of proper rest as well as from the anxiety of his undesirable circumstances, making him feel older beyond his years. Where he once learned to accept his position, he had now grown to dislike it.
Tenchi continued to ponder his situation while gathering his bathing supplies, determined to get in a nice soak in the bath alone before anyone else had the chance to do so. He had asked himself many times why he didn't take control, either by leaving himself or by sending the girls out on their own, at least he could live as he wanted, without interruption or havoc. He just didn't have the guts to act upon it. Whether it be because he would truly miss them, or because he had promised Aeka, he had stayed and let them continue on there.
After collecting all that he needed, Tenchi quietly slid the door open, letting a small breeze of cool air create goosebumps on his exposed skin. He stuck his head out into the hall, listening intently to hear if anyone was up and bout. The house seemed rather empty and silent, definitely not like it usually was, and Tenchi found thins quite unsettling. He had become accustomed to the smell of Sasami's cooking and the sounds of others preparing for the day, but it was still rather early, even for him, and there would be no sweet aromas coming up from the kitchen today. He had to remind himself that the resident genius had ordered the young princess to bed rest for the remainder of the week.
Finding that everything was clear, Tenchi slowly exited his room and with tender footing, made his way down the hall. Maybe a little hot water and steam would help clear his mind.
--------
It was rather dark in the laboratory of the greatest scientist who had ever lived in the known universe, as the light of morning wasn't able to penetrate due to its subspace existence. The only signs of life were that of the low humming sounds emitting from the many instruments housed within, and of course the mild snoring of one red-headed genius.
There in the dimly lit recesses of her lab was Washu, slumped over one of the consoles used to monitor several large containment tubes, a small spattering of drool collecting on the corner of her gaping mouth and beginning to pool onto the equipment.
It had been a long, harrowing night for the diminutive scholar, who had spent most of the evening trying to contact her daughter to find out exactly what she had done to upset the eldest princess. Washu was quite aware of Ryoko's numerous successes when it came to pissing off the Jurian, and knew of Tenchi's attempts of pleading with them to stop their quarreling, to no avail. But still, something about the whole affair seemed out of sync, and so she had to talk to Ryoko so that she could get her side of the story, just as she had done with Aeka.
Unfortunately, her attempts proved fruitless as the former pirate had blocked their shared link, and all surveillance equipment failed to establish the woman's whereabouts. Sometimes Washu regretted having endowed her creation with such a vast array of abilities; especially the power to simply disappear and remain undetected.
And so it came to be that the scientist kept busy, keeping to heart the old adage 'idle hands are the devil's playground'. If she thought too hard about the scuffle that had nearly killed the culinary wonder, it would have only made for one giant headache.
So in true form, Washu had decided to keep herself busy with the one thing that she loved, science, only to find herself thinking back to the conversation between her and the eldest princess. Something just didn't fit and she was determined to find out for sure what was going on.
After a while, the diminutive woman unwillingly succumbed to the world of dreams, her work station now becoming an impromptu sleeping area as her head rested on the control panel while her arms hung limply at her sides.
Washu was jarred awake from her unexpected nap by a rather loud beeping noise coming from behind, causing her to almost fall off her hovering cushion. She turned her head in the direction of the disturbance, silently berating herself for falling asleep in the midst of important scientific research. Summoning a sub-dimensional pocket, Washu extracted a tissue to wipe away the saliva that had accumulated on her face and equipment, and promptly disposed of it into another portal as she headed towards the alarm.
A bit too weary to perform the necessary task manually, she began giving commands verbally to nobody in particular.
"Computer, activate vocal command program 8276. Password: MechaWashu"
After several quick tones, a deep male mechanical voice replied to the scientist's request.
Vocalization and password confirmed. Program activated. Good morning
Professor Washu.
"Computer, what's with all the racket?" she demanded haughtily.
Incoming interstellar communication. Status: Urgent
"Well patch it through!"
Within seconds, a distorted image of a flustered teal-haired woman with dark-blue eyes emerged on a holographic screen. The insignia on the uniform as the image blipped in and out through the static told Washu that it was Kiyone, appearing to be screaming incoherently into her console as the distortion impaired both the sound as well as the picture.
Experiencing interference due to unstable weather patterns. Attempting comm-link reconfiguration the voice said in a banausic tone.
"Switch to a secure channel." Washu called out irritably. A deep yawn escaped her lungs, a reminder of just how tired she really was. She made a mental note, citing that she would have to forego any experiments tonight and get some much-needed rest.
After several seconds, the image had improved greatly, relieving some of the frustration between both the officer and the scientist.
Proper alignment complete. came the monotone announcement.
Before the bleary-eyed, egotistical genius could say a word, Kiyone blurted out what she had been trying to say.
"Washu, I need your help..."
-----------
Well inside a modest home sheltered deep within the Okayama Prefecture, two men sat at the center of a newly renovated kitchen; one of great age and wisdom, the other of average maturity and burdened with the stresses of deadlines. Both knew full well the changes that had taken place amongst their extended family, however neither of them cognizant of just how much more was about to take place.
Katsuhito sat at the reconstructed island that occupied the spot where it's predecessor once stood, quietly sipping his tea as the first light of the clouded dawn forced it's way through the windows. Before him sat his only son-in-law, content in flipping through his morning paper, a piece of half-eaten toast and a small cup of coffee close by.
"According to this, we're in for some harsh weather this afternoon." Nobuyuki stated, pointing to a weather report on one of the pages. He looked over at the window to gaze outside, taking note of the already falling snow. "Looks like we got a few inches already."
The elder responded with only a slight nod, holding the earthen mug between his asperous hands. The light sound of creaking floorboards alerted him to his grandson's rise. No matter how many people occupied the house, he could always distinguish between him and the girls, a definite advantage from his days as a trained warrior and Prince of Jurai.
"Tenchi's up rather early, must've had a rough night." Katsuhito spoke matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, I heard him get up several times last night. He must be pretty worried about what happened. Maybe I should have a talk with him."
"I wouldn't worry about it. He'll pull through, just as he always has. He is much stronger than you give him credit for."
Nobuyuki said nothing as he folded his paper, placing it next to what he considered to be his breakfast. Picking up his coffee cup, he silently mourned the absence of Sasami's wonderful cooking skills. He always thought she needed a day off or two, he just wished it hadn't required such an unfortunate event to do so.
With a deep sigh, Tenchi's father arose from his seat and walked over to the new room that Washu had added, marveling at its grand simplicity. Nobuyuki felt very lucky to have such a gifted as well as intelligent woman residing in his home. It helped save the family's finances quite a bit as he didn't have to dole out any cash towards building supplies and laborers, not to mention the insurance premiums that sky rocketed the last time the girls decided to rearrange the walls. Still, he hoped that whatever had the girls at odds with each other, it would soon come to an end. It didn't calm one's nerves to know that their home was a virtual battlefield.
Nobuyuki absentmindedly scratched the back of his head, much like his son would do when confronted with certain situations. He had thought that after Tenchi's return that the bickering had stopped, at least the destructive part, as they had seemed to realize at the time that their constant fighting was in part their fault for his disappearance. But yesterday was yet another example of good things never lasting for very long. Maybe, just maybe, some things couldn't be resolved between the two women, but what ever it was, it was lost on him.
Just as Katsuhito was about to join his younger counterpart in the unique structure that was now a part of their home, the creaking of the closet door beneath the stairs caught the elder's attention.
"It's a bit early for Washu to be up. Mihoshi's not awake, is she?" the older man mused, knowing full well about the incident that had taken place between the detective and the genius just yesterday.
Nobuyuki was about to reply to his father-in-law's remark when Washu crossed the threshold between the living room and kitchen, a serious look furrowing her child-like brow.
"Lord Yosho," Washu began, her voice eerily calm. "I need to speak with you and the others."
"What is it, Miss Washu? Is something wrong?" asked the shrine keeper.
The diminutive woman simply looked at him, her eyes conveying something that filled his heart with dread. It had to be very serious if she was calling him by his Jurian title, something nobody in the house ever did.
Without saying a word, the Shinto priest did as he was directed, stolidly heading for the stairs to awaken the rest of the house.
-------
The First Crown Princess of Jurai's Royal Family plodded unceremoniously into the living room, a far cry from the usual disposition befitting a woman of her station, and understandably so. Having only ten minutes in which to properly dress and groom as per her brother's request was unheard of in Aeka's book, especially when one was still recovering from last night's over consumption of Washu's special sake. It was only with sheer will that the princess was able to make herself even remotely presentable, all the while having felt like her skull was being hammered on from the inside out.
From behind Aeka, Sasami emerged, complete with Ryo-Ohki perched between the child's two light blue ponytails. The sight of Sasami and the cabbit would have been considered by most a Hallmark moment, only the little princess's expression was far from being just that. Her usually bright pink eyes were downcast, accentuated by dark circles, and her shoulders were slumped low in a posture of implied defeat. To look at her in such a manner would make anyone feel pitiful condolence, insinuating she had lost a close pet or something worse.
Both Aeka and Sasami took their places on the large wine-colored sofa, patiently waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. Hesitantly, the older of the two surveyed the room to see who had come and who had not. Tenchi sat alone on the matching loveseat on the far right side of the room, and this relieved the princess somewhat. Usually that immoral demon would teasingly sit ever so close to him, declaring the piece of furniture as the Masaki/Hakubi marriage throne and then punctuate her outrageous claim with an equally egregious display of affection for Tenchi, much to the dismay of the poor man. Thankfully Ryoko was nowhere to be seen for the moment.
Aeka cringed, both at the thought of that rogue beast molesting Lord Tenchi and of the hangover that lingered more ferociously than before. Washu approached the Jurian woman with a look of concern, and with as much secrecy as she was able to accomplish at the moment, handed Aeka a small yellow pill and a glass of water.
"This will take care of that nasty headache." the little genius whispered rather quietly into Aeka's ear, causing the future Empress to flinch as the sound of Washu's voice felt like a primal scream rather than a soft murmur.
With much effort, Aeka accepted the items from her, having known from Ryoko's past experiences with excessive alcohol intake that this would help alleviate her pain. The violet-tressed princess gingerly placed the pill on her tongue and promptly took a small sip of the water, hoping that this would quickly deliver her from the perils of her distress.
Aeka placed the glass ever so gently onto the table in front of her and resumed her assessment of the situation. Behind Tenchi stood her brother Yosho and his daughter's widower. Whereas Nobuyuki looked just as perplexed as some of the others, Yosho's expression spoke both volumes and yet, at the same time, spoke nothing at all. His wrinkled brow holding the same look as he had all those centuries ago, before he went to fight the demon Ryoko, before he disappeared from her life without so much as a backward glance.
Aeka's recollection of her brother before his disappearance caused her head to reel as if her hangover had returned with a vengeance. Her instincts told her something wasn't right, and Yosho's deceptively withered face reflected the same.
Deep inside she prayed that it wasn't that serious, at least to her. Maybe the pirate had actually gotten the idea for once that she was no longer welcome, fleeing into the infinite depths of space. It would please her greatly if Ryoko had done just that, but as the concept of the woman's departure hung in her mind, she couldn't help but feel a tremendous pang of guilt and self-contempt grow from deep inside. Yes, they were most definitely two different sides of a broad spectrum, and their history would leave even the most hardened of souls grieve for her pain. But even with all of that, she had held some hope for the pirate. After all, they had just begun to learn to tolerate each other, and even at one time, albeit brief, would even consider the other a friend. But still, the fresh reminder of yesterday's episode lingered, and her hatred for the cyan-haired bully manifested itself once again.
She would just have to wait and see.
Mere inches away from the silently brooding Aeka, Mihoshi sat on the floor, watching the room and the people around her, waiting patiently for the meeting to begin. Her blonde, curly hair hung loosely around her shoulders (a sight which had never been seen by anyone in the house), framing her exceptionally dark skin beautifully.
The detective was well aware of the comments some of the girls had made about her hair and skin, ranging from light humor to outright cruel. But despite it all, Mihoshi forgave them for their ignorance, accepting them all for their own faults as well as her own. After all, that's what family did, forgive each other.
As she looked upon the people gathered together, the detective couldn't help but feel lonely inside. She missed her partner greatly; believing Kiyone to be the only one amongst them whom she felt even remotely understood her. Sure the teal-tressed officer would continually chastise her for even the smallest of indiscretions, but she knew that Kiyone only meant to look out for her, as no one else at the Academy would even try. With her partner's absence, she felt vulnerable to the attacks and prejudices of others. Oh how Mihoshi wished she were here.
"Hey, where's Ryoko?" Noboyuki questioned. "Shouldn't she be here?"
"She'll be along later," Washu answered, paying no mind to the evil glare Aeka was giving Tenchi's father.
Washu headed for the door that once housed the small broom closet and grasped the handle, taking a brief moment to glance at the group as they watched her every move, anticipation hanging heavily in the air.
Without another thought, the gifted redhead opened the closet door, allowing everyone in the area to see what the genius had in store for them.
Mihoshi shot up into the air, an ear-piercing shriek escaping her lungs. Everyone recoiled at the blonde's reaction, instinctively ducking as the officer attempted to run at the figure standing in the threshold between the lab and the living area. Unfortunately, in Mihoshi's state of excitement, she temporarily forgot about the coffee table that blocked her path. With a loud crash, her face made contact with the floor.
"Ouch..."
--------
In the infinite depths of space, Kirito, the royal ship of Emperor Azusa, continued through the stars. Entering into what is commonly known as the Sol System on its intended destination accompanied by the Karin and several smaller crafts.
Inside the enormous bridge of the Karin, a large tree (not unlike the space tree overlooking the lake by the Masaki shrine) stood amongst a lush backdrop of extravagant flora, surrounded by a maze of waterways for which to keep the habitat properly maintained.
The two wives of the Emperor, Funaho and Misaki, gazed out of the transparent dome that both provided protection from the vacuum of space and allowed them to peer out into the beauty of the galaxy. The two queens, whose usual demeanor where both elegantly poised and deceptively effervescent (respectively), held somber expressions as they stood beside each other. Neither of them really wanting to breach the subject at hand, yet very much aware of the situation and what it meant for their family as well as the empire they governed.
A young man wearing a uniform, similar to those being worn by Detectives Kiyone and Mihoshi, came upon the two women, bowing deeply in a show of proper respect. The man righted himself and proceeded to inform them of why he was there.
"Your Highnesses, we've detected an outgoing transmission emanating from the Yagami. Should we inform the Emperor?"
"That will not be necessary, Captain Ishio" answered Funaho, bowing slightly. "Emperor Azusa has much more pressing business at the moment and should not be bothered by such frivolities, wouldn't you agree?"
The captain's evergreen eyes reflected his bewilderment, but held his tongue. He knew better than to question the Queen about such matters, and instead quietly agreed.
"Thank you, Captain. And please remember that I wish to be informed of anything you encounter on this voyage. I do not want my husband to be disturbed. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, your Highness." Ishio replied as he nodded once more, although just a bit reluctantly. Again he bowed deeply, and without so much as a second thought, turned swiftly on his heel and left.
"It seems that Kiyone is determined to alert our children of our impending visit." Misaki said flatly as she left her sister/wife's side, the back of her lavishly decorated outer robes rustling ever so softly along the metallic flooring as she made her way to the ship's name sake.
"Yes indeed." her counterpart replied in equal tones, continuing to stare out into the all-encompassing beauty of the galaxy before her.
"What do you think is going to happen, Funaho?"
"I'm not sure, but we can only hope for the best."
-------
High atop the snowy hillside behind the Masaki homestead sat Ryoko, the wind from the oncoming storm blowing large clusters of snow into her wild mane of cyan hair. Her favorite pink and aqua dress was now almost unrecognizable as the flakes began to collect on it as well, making it seem like a white fur coat.
'So much for pity points if they thought I'd freeze to death out here' she thought sarcastically, her hand lightly grazing the very top of the snowy ground.
Ryoko thought back to the matter at hand: the meeting that Washu had called, and the request that she herself should attend, along with the scientist's warning not to jump to conclusions.
Too late. She had a gut feeling that she would be the topic of discussion, no matter who tried to tell her otherwise. Still, Ryoko felt that she had to go. After all, she wasn't going to leave without having something to say about it.
Silently, the cyan beauty phased out of sight, leaving the wintry landscape behind.
Author's notes: Here it is. Sorry to the Miho fans out there, I just had to do it, the chapter seemed too serious. Hope you like it. Again, comments welcome. Thanx to Dudeman for his proofreading, you will be greatly rewarded! A huge smooch to my devoted readers and their undying patience. You're the reason I keep going. Also, I have had more than a few people point out that the OVA and Tenchi Forever are not the same continuities. Like I stated in my first chapter, I did this on purpose. 'Why' you ask? It's simple, creativity holds no bounds for me, so forget about continuities for the time being. In other words: artistic license! :) I do have a side story in the works to explain this little issue (with a dedication at that!), so please be patient.
Chapter 5 is on backorder, but expected to arrive before the holiday season. Again, feedback is VERY appreciated and welcome (except for spam and hate mail, unless you have a great sense of humor. I'm not THAT sensitive.)
Mistress-Ryoko
P.S. BobR, thank you so much for the review. You're a sweetheart! Hope I can continue to receive great praises from you on your site! Don't worry Valdi- I didn't forget about you. :)
SMOOCHES!!