Uh, this'd be your standard disclaimer, I don't own Tenchi Muyo!!! Ok, got it? Great! Now, on with the story!
Reminder, this is a warm and fuzzy pick-me-up for those who like Ryoko and are all (or at least slightly) for the whole T/R pairing. Also, keep in mind that Ryoko's OOC-ness is due to the fact that Ry seems to have chosen her for a mother.
Years had passed since that day so long ago when Ryoko lost her first child. She couldn't officially call it her worst day ever, that's the day Tenchi confessed his love for her. That part always made her smile. But to this day, fourteen years later, her family still asks her why she gave up so easily on the one sunshine in her life. She simple replied with tears in her eyes, "She wasn't my only sunshine." Ryoko still neglected telling them about that dream she had. The one that showed her the consequences of not giving Ry back and she frankly didn't intend on telling them ever. The only one she had told was Tenchi, because she had trusted him. In turn, he told her of how he felt when she had given all her attention to Ry. At this she laughed and apologized. Tenchi smiled brighter than he had in a while, it was so nice to hear her pure, warm, inviting laugh, untainted by anything.
It had been about three years since Tenchi and Ryoko had been married. Ayeka, to eveyone's surprise, insisted the marriage to be on Jurai. Even more, she had gone out of her way to prevent any slander or attacks on Ryoko as the ceremony commenced. It was a beautiful ceremony, performed right in the palace, although it scared everyone half to death when it took two hourse for Ryoko to emerge from her room. Tenchi about had a heart attack, each minute thinking she had run off to find Ry or something else. But, it was simply cold feet, as was, Ryoko was shaking like a leaf in a hurricane as she walked down that isle, decked out in an all white Juraian star silk gown. Tenchi could have died, and in fact, he thought he had as he watched her. After the ceremony and before Tenchi took her off for the honeymoon, Ayeka couldn't help but chew Ryoko out for how late she had been, and Ryoko just simply sat there beaming. Giving up, Ayeka returned Ryoko to Tenchi and saw them off.
'Yes sir, those certainly were the good days back then.' Ayeka now sat in her throne. Of all the family, she was the first and only to leave, Sasami stayed, giving a purpose for Mihoshi and Kiyone to stay as well. Ayeka had sometimes felt like an outcast for leaving, but, she coudn't refuse her responsibilities, not after how much she lectured Ryoko on not doing it, so she returned, sadly saying goodbye. Of course, every now and then, she returned with a smile on her face, until she caught Ryoko's still slightly depressed face. Ayeka was now frustrated with Ryoko, no matter how much she said it, Ayeka knew she wasn't over that child.
"You're majesty." Ayeka was snapped from her thoughts as a royal guard entered the throne room.
"Speak." She was annoyed, this was her time to think, and it had just been interrupted in the midst of her happiest memories.
"You're majesty, we have a young rouge who is brought before you, for she is under age to be tried as an adult. You requested these cases be brought before you?"
"Yes yes, send her in." Now, her full attention was brought back to the situation at hand, these cases always required her full attention, and even if they didn't, she gave it anyway, hoping one day to find her, Ryoko's sunshine, for they were friends now and Ayeka just wanted Ryoko to be happy.
A young girl of about fifteen was brought kicking and biting before Ayeka. One of the guards, absolutely disgusted with the child, grabbed her by the hair and forced her head up to look at Ayeka.
'Those emerald green eyes, I know that face.' "Leave us now."
"But you're majesty...."
"I said leave us NOW." The guards nodded and exited through the doorway leaving the adolescent and the empress. "Tell me your name."
The child was caught off guard, something about that voice...seemed, almost trustworthy, she decided to humor the woman, "Name's Kilara why? Like to know the name of your victims before you throw them to your wolves?"
Ayeka was completely caught off guard by the comment, but would not let this child see that she intimidated the empress. "Do you remember anything of your past, R-uh, Kilara?"
"No why?" 'That voice!!! What is about it?????' Kilara was clenching her teeth, she remembered very little of her past, what she did remember, she held onto, unfortunately, all she could hold onto now was a faceless smile and blue, that was it. Also, a sweet voice, and brown eyes, but this woman hadn't that voice nor blue, the smile or the blue or brown eyes. Everything was blurry to her. "Please tell me, do you know anything?" Kilara now trusted this woman, she didnt' know why, she just did, and it was enough for her, she based her whole life on trust, hopefully it'd work now.
Ayeka nodded happily. She led Kilara to the throne next to hers and relayed her past, that Ayeka knew of, to her. By the end, Kilara was in tears, everything from then on was clear now, that woman, the blue, the sweet voice, the smile, and that man, the brown eyes, everything was clear, and she wanted that happiness back.
"Your name is not Kilara, would you like to come home with me...."
"AAAAHHHHH RYO-OHKI!!!!!" Sasami chased the cabbit away from the kitchen, "You know this is for Ayeka, she'c coming home today and you can't keep stealing food or nothing will get done!!!"
"Miy miya miyaaaaaa" Ryo-ohki said apologetically.
"Oh, just go out and play, I'll be out soon." Sasami couldn't stay mad at the cute little cabbit.
In the living room, Ryoko sat in front of the tv not really watching the soap opera on tv. She was, for the most part, tuning it out, to tired to really pay attention to much. She stood up and stretched yawning as a comercial came on.
Tenchi walked up behind her and put his arms around her waist kissing her neck, "Morning love."
Ryoko smiled and turned around in his arms and kissed him full on the lips. Washu chose that moment to emerge from her lab.
"Do you really have to do that here? Not everyone finds it as entertaining as some may."
In response, Ryoko only deepened the kiss. Washu rolled her eyes, "Honestly, kids." She sweatdroped as she walked by Mihoshi totally absorbed in the tv, commercial or not. 'Yep, this is still a family, we're just missin one but she'll be here soon enough.'
'Unfortunately.' Ryoko's voice coming through the link startled Washu. Once again, she turned toward the couple who were still kissing and once again, rolled her eyes. "GET A ROOM!" Washu then stalked off to the kitchens for some odd reason or another.
Tenchi slowly broke the kiss and, in one quick motion, scooped Ryoko up in his arms, "Doesn't sound like such a bad idea." Ryoko giggled as he carried her upstairs and closed the door.
And, yet once again, the moment was lost upon the blonde sitting on the couch, not realizing she was now watching and infomercial on some new American grill.
Two hours later found the entire family standing outside the house waiting for the Juraian royal ship to come bearing the empress of Jurai herself, coming back home, to the one place she truely felt she belonged. Once the ship landed, everyone crowded around it awaiting her decent from ship to earth. But, rather than Ayeka emerge first, a strange girl came. Her emerald eyes glistened with tears, and with a wisp of her her long, black hair, she tightly embraced Ryoko. Ayeka stepped out of the ship, smiling sincerely. Ryoko looked over the girl's shoulder at Ayeka who simply nodded. Ryoko's eyes glistened and she embraced the girl tightly, never, EVER wanting to let go....
"Welcome home Ry."
