Forever Ryoko
By Starhopper
DISCLAIMER: *throws an ice-blast in the direction of all prowling lawyers just looking for a copyright infringement* GO AWAY!
A/N: When I saw the first movie, I couldn't get over the strength of Achika's character. She was everything a Juraian should be, as well as a good mother to Tenchi who literally gave her own life to save her son and future husband.
So she's in here too.
Along with Haruna . . . blech. But as much as I despise her and yell "Die die die" at the screen whenever she comes on, I admired her will to have a life with her prince. She just happened to pick the wrong one.
Oh, and for anyone who doesn't check their emails, I bought all my Tenchi Movies at Suncoast Video. They sell the movies pretty cheap too.
Anyway, enjoy!
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Chapter 5: Old Ghosts
Snuggled into his shoulder, his body taught and warm from working in the carrot patch, air whistling in and out through nostrils; oh yes, Ryoko could easily lie like this forever.
She lifted her left hand up, straightened her arm, and admired the engagement ring from afar. It had a sweet simplicity to its color.huh its color. Tenchi had said it reminded him of her eyes . . . a fact that Ryoko treasured to this day. Reality became a memory of that wonderful day the ring had been slipped onto her finger . . .
'I know it's simple, and I didn't have very much money at the time, but,'
Ryoko's interest was peaked. It had been awhile since they had talked of marriage, since the "Great Cooking Disaster," as they all fondly called it. Tenchi had later made up for the wait by inviting her to spend the night with him every night thereafter. And ever since then, Ryoko had figured it was a matter of time before a certain little velveteen box made its official appearance.
Disappointments had come and gone. All had been tiny; oh what they could've been. Instead, she had happily received a watch, an aquamarine pendant, a matching ring, and earrings. Now she was just hoping that it wasn't a tiny aquamarine bracelet to complete the set. All gifts had began the same way from their giver, " Now I know it's simple, and I didn't have very much money at the time, but," So it really didn't surprise her when he started the same way as he always did. But when that black, velveteen box, cupped so lovingly in his palm, was brought in her field of vision, Ryoko knew that this had to be it.
As the hinges squeaked open, she caught her breath. Just in time too, for Tenchi had a speech all planned out. 'From the very first moment I saw you, lying there beside the lake, something inside me clicked. Then, when you sipped the water, coughed and opened your beautiful eyes, something inside me reeled back in premonition to the feeling I would be feeling now.' That blush highlighted his cheeks and she once more saw the visage of the unsure sixteen-year-old that was burned in her memory. 'But I know what I mean when I say that I love you and I couldn't imagine then what I still can't bear to think of now . . . a life without you, Ryoko.'
Still as clear as the rain that started to fall just now as she lay on the couch, supported by her beloved's shoulder, she could recite his whole proposal word for word, action for action. Parting her lips, she began aloud, "Ryoko, I've lost you too many times before. Once, I thought I had lost you for good," she paused to wipe the corners of her eyes with a tip of a finger as he had only eight months ago. "One time is enough for me, I never want to lose you again."
Ryoko wasn't startled when she heard the familiar voice out of the corner of her hearing from her living pillow. "And you said, 'You'll never lose me again'."
Tenchi shifted and stretched to reach her left hand. He brought it up in his right, and folded them across Ryoko's breast.
Turning her head, she caught his big brown eyes. "And you won't. After all, you can't get rid of me that easily."
He laughed which spread a smile across her lips. "I wouldn't want to try." His face gravitated toward hers and as their lips touched, thunder rumbled outside. Sheets of rain pelted the Masaki house. Lightning zigzagged across the sky, struck an old, dead Camellia tree. A Banshee's wail echoed through the hills, her nails rapped against the living room window. Another cry escaped her as the light brown eyes beheld the display of true love. Speeding to the Shrine, she stopped in front of Yosho's dwelling.
Grandfather lifted his head to her plaintive wails and pounds.
"I'm coming Haruna." He discommoded himself from his meditation, and as he walked to answer the door, he heard a simple, "Ahem."
"Itsuki, please don't be jealous. I'll see both of you soon."
"Apparently not soon enough," his late wife replied with a huff. She stood afloat in her favorite Kimono that had been buried with her. "Dearest, why?"
"My time is served. Tenchi is on his way with his own dearest, and the future, though not totally cleansed of evil, is on its way to being so. I have lived a hard life."
"Though it wasn't totally devoid of its happy times."
Grandfather now watched Achika phase in, next to her mother in the same heavenly glow. "Father, please, give careful consideration of what you're planning to do."
"My daughter, wife, and past love all call me to join them. Confusion is the last thing I'm worried about. My service has ended as mentor and guardian. It is my time to rest."
A third ghost from his past manifested herself in the center between Achika and Itsuki. Haruna wore her favorite white cloak. Rumpled ebony hair fell past her shoulders, with Camellia blossoms braided into the strands. "Kind Yosho. I found a way in."
Itsuki sniffed in contempt and Achika quickly sought to comfort her mother with a half embrace. "Father, just consider it for my son's sake."
Lord Katsuhito sat down, rubbing his temples like an indecisive adolescent. "For once in my life I don't know what to do."
Haruna knelt beside him, brows knitted in concern. "Now that's just not true. You have always known what to do inside, even if the outside doesn't carry out any of the commands."
"They may still have need of you yet Katsuhito." Itsuki lilted in a soothing tone.
"And when she says 'them', we mean the Masaki children that will succeed their parents as some of the most powerful beings on earth." Achika smiled solemnly.
"And in their known and unknown universe." The kneeling woman at his side finished the projected future for Achika. "Please consider all that we have presented and told you tonight before you step through that door on my arm." Haruna whispered in her angelic voice.
"Love you father!"
"Always my dearest."
"Till we meet again, Yosho."
Abruptly as they had all appeared, they were gone, leaving Grandfather with his head in hands. Then with that same head held high, he sat upon the futon and began his meditation period once more, completely unscathed by the discussion that would've changed and erased many lives had he decided to step through the door and into the many welcoming arms of death.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Eep! Grandpa Yosho was gonna die?!
Maybe I'm not so bad at cliffhangers as I like to think!
REVIEWs are always welcome and flames will be frozen and broken over Jaken's head. ^-^ hee hee hee!
By Starhopper
DISCLAIMER: *throws an ice-blast in the direction of all prowling lawyers just looking for a copyright infringement* GO AWAY!
A/N: When I saw the first movie, I couldn't get over the strength of Achika's character. She was everything a Juraian should be, as well as a good mother to Tenchi who literally gave her own life to save her son and future husband.
So she's in here too.
Along with Haruna . . . blech. But as much as I despise her and yell "Die die die" at the screen whenever she comes on, I admired her will to have a life with her prince. She just happened to pick the wrong one.
Oh, and for anyone who doesn't check their emails, I bought all my Tenchi Movies at Suncoast Video. They sell the movies pretty cheap too.
Anyway, enjoy!
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Chapter 5: Old Ghosts
Snuggled into his shoulder, his body taught and warm from working in the carrot patch, air whistling in and out through nostrils; oh yes, Ryoko could easily lie like this forever.
She lifted her left hand up, straightened her arm, and admired the engagement ring from afar. It had a sweet simplicity to its color.huh its color. Tenchi had said it reminded him of her eyes . . . a fact that Ryoko treasured to this day. Reality became a memory of that wonderful day the ring had been slipped onto her finger . . .
'I know it's simple, and I didn't have very much money at the time, but,'
Ryoko's interest was peaked. It had been awhile since they had talked of marriage, since the "Great Cooking Disaster," as they all fondly called it. Tenchi had later made up for the wait by inviting her to spend the night with him every night thereafter. And ever since then, Ryoko had figured it was a matter of time before a certain little velveteen box made its official appearance.
Disappointments had come and gone. All had been tiny; oh what they could've been. Instead, she had happily received a watch, an aquamarine pendant, a matching ring, and earrings. Now she was just hoping that it wasn't a tiny aquamarine bracelet to complete the set. All gifts had began the same way from their giver, " Now I know it's simple, and I didn't have very much money at the time, but," So it really didn't surprise her when he started the same way as he always did. But when that black, velveteen box, cupped so lovingly in his palm, was brought in her field of vision, Ryoko knew that this had to be it.
As the hinges squeaked open, she caught her breath. Just in time too, for Tenchi had a speech all planned out. 'From the very first moment I saw you, lying there beside the lake, something inside me clicked. Then, when you sipped the water, coughed and opened your beautiful eyes, something inside me reeled back in premonition to the feeling I would be feeling now.' That blush highlighted his cheeks and she once more saw the visage of the unsure sixteen-year-old that was burned in her memory. 'But I know what I mean when I say that I love you and I couldn't imagine then what I still can't bear to think of now . . . a life without you, Ryoko.'
Still as clear as the rain that started to fall just now as she lay on the couch, supported by her beloved's shoulder, she could recite his whole proposal word for word, action for action. Parting her lips, she began aloud, "Ryoko, I've lost you too many times before. Once, I thought I had lost you for good," she paused to wipe the corners of her eyes with a tip of a finger as he had only eight months ago. "One time is enough for me, I never want to lose you again."
Ryoko wasn't startled when she heard the familiar voice out of the corner of her hearing from her living pillow. "And you said, 'You'll never lose me again'."
Tenchi shifted and stretched to reach her left hand. He brought it up in his right, and folded them across Ryoko's breast.
Turning her head, she caught his big brown eyes. "And you won't. After all, you can't get rid of me that easily."
He laughed which spread a smile across her lips. "I wouldn't want to try." His face gravitated toward hers and as their lips touched, thunder rumbled outside. Sheets of rain pelted the Masaki house. Lightning zigzagged across the sky, struck an old, dead Camellia tree. A Banshee's wail echoed through the hills, her nails rapped against the living room window. Another cry escaped her as the light brown eyes beheld the display of true love. Speeding to the Shrine, she stopped in front of Yosho's dwelling.
Grandfather lifted his head to her plaintive wails and pounds.
"I'm coming Haruna." He discommoded himself from his meditation, and as he walked to answer the door, he heard a simple, "Ahem."
"Itsuki, please don't be jealous. I'll see both of you soon."
"Apparently not soon enough," his late wife replied with a huff. She stood afloat in her favorite Kimono that had been buried with her. "Dearest, why?"
"My time is served. Tenchi is on his way with his own dearest, and the future, though not totally cleansed of evil, is on its way to being so. I have lived a hard life."
"Though it wasn't totally devoid of its happy times."
Grandfather now watched Achika phase in, next to her mother in the same heavenly glow. "Father, please, give careful consideration of what you're planning to do."
"My daughter, wife, and past love all call me to join them. Confusion is the last thing I'm worried about. My service has ended as mentor and guardian. It is my time to rest."
A third ghost from his past manifested herself in the center between Achika and Itsuki. Haruna wore her favorite white cloak. Rumpled ebony hair fell past her shoulders, with Camellia blossoms braided into the strands. "Kind Yosho. I found a way in."
Itsuki sniffed in contempt and Achika quickly sought to comfort her mother with a half embrace. "Father, just consider it for my son's sake."
Lord Katsuhito sat down, rubbing his temples like an indecisive adolescent. "For once in my life I don't know what to do."
Haruna knelt beside him, brows knitted in concern. "Now that's just not true. You have always known what to do inside, even if the outside doesn't carry out any of the commands."
"They may still have need of you yet Katsuhito." Itsuki lilted in a soothing tone.
"And when she says 'them', we mean the Masaki children that will succeed their parents as some of the most powerful beings on earth." Achika smiled solemnly.
"And in their known and unknown universe." The kneeling woman at his side finished the projected future for Achika. "Please consider all that we have presented and told you tonight before you step through that door on my arm." Haruna whispered in her angelic voice.
"Love you father!"
"Always my dearest."
"Till we meet again, Yosho."
Abruptly as they had all appeared, they were gone, leaving Grandfather with his head in hands. Then with that same head held high, he sat upon the futon and began his meditation period once more, completely unscathed by the discussion that would've changed and erased many lives had he decided to step through the door and into the many welcoming arms of death.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Eep! Grandpa Yosho was gonna die?!
Maybe I'm not so bad at cliffhangers as I like to think!
REVIEWs are always welcome and flames will be frozen and broken over Jaken's head. ^-^ hee hee hee!