The Return to Darkness

by lighthawkdemon1

Sequel to 'The Darkness Within'. Tenchi is plagued by thoughts and nightmares of his 'previous life.' He tries to move on and forget it, but Tokimi is still around and deeply desires for him to return to her...and their unborn child.

2. Chapter 2: A Reunion of Hearts

Tenchi Muyo!

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Disclaimer: This episode of Tenchi Muyo! is of my own creation. I do not own any portion of Tenchi Muyo. "Tenchi Muyo!" and all related characters, names, etc. are ©1992-2003 AIC Inc. and Pioneer LDC. All rights reserved.

Note: This story line is a sequel to 'The Darkness Within.' I recommend reading the stories since it is an incredible series and is very well done.

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The Return to Darkness
Chapter 2:
A Reunion of Hearts

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"Tokimi..." Tenchi whispers aloud with a mixture of shock and awe in his voice. Aside from the shorter hair and the absence of the green stripes on her neck and cheeks, this beautiful young woman in front of him is the spitting image of Tokimi...his Tokimi. She even said her name is Tokimi! 'What's going on here?' his mind screams in confusion.

The young woman moves around the classroom and takes an empty spot…right next to Tenchi. As she sits down, the instructor goes back to his lesson. Tokimi looks over to Tenchi, who is feeling quite confused and nervous at the moment, and smiles warmly at him. The prince suddenly has an intense feeling of euphoria flow through his body. Everything that has been worrying him as of late now feels like they have happened to someone else. 'I cannot describe to you how incredibly happy I am,' a soft, sweet voice rings inside of his head. 'I feared that I would never get the change to see you for real ever again.'

Surprised, Tenchi locks his gaze back onto the beautiful young woman sitting next to him. She nods lightly. 'Yes, it is me. I am speaking to you telepathically so you can simply think what you wish to speak.'

'What is going on here?' his mind once more asks, only this time it is directed towards Tokimi and there is the slightest hint of desperation in his voice.

The goddess scoots a little closer to her husband. 'Do not worry my dear Tenchi, I will explain everything to you soon, but right now I think your schooling needs more attention. After this is finished, let us take a walk and I will make everything clear.'

Tenchi mentally shrugs lightly. 'Um...okay...I...I guess.' He redirects his attention back to the instructor, who is still going on about the basics of art. His mind wanders once more, only this time it focuses on his precious Tokimi and her unmatched beauty, her sweet, soothing voice, her caring and devotion and the way she always made him feel as if he was the luckiest man in the universe, which he definitely was. Subconsciously, the prince reaches over with his left hand and grasps her right hand. The young woman looks mildly surprised, but intertwines her fingers with his all the same. They remain that way for the rest of the lesson.

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Afterwards, Tenchi and Tokimi are walking down the street, both still wearing their school uniforms. This day is just like yesterday, warm and sunny, but now with a few small clouds littering the sky. The prince decides to ask once more, "So please tell me what exactly is going on."

Tokimi sighs deeply and stops walking. "Are you sure you wish to know the truth?"

"Yes I do," Tenchi starts while stepping closer. "I have been so confused lately. All I want to know is what's going on."

The young woman lowers her magnificent head. "That dream that you experienced about two months ago...all of it was true. Everything, all true."

The prince takes a step back. "What? But...but how? I...I mean, how come everything is back to how it was before I choose Ryoko?" he stammers out.

"Just as you were taking your life, I used every once of power and emotions inside of me to save you. Unfortunately the only safe way was to reverse time back a certain distance. I am unsure as to how I had managed to do so, but I do believe that my powers combined with Tsunami's were able to accomplish that task."

Tenchi just stares at her in shock. "But...I killed my family. I did it...and I enjoyed it."

The goddess looks deep into his eyes. "What you did was get revenge for what they did to you. They were your family and you loved and cared for all of them very deeply, but do you truly think that they felt the same for you? They left you so readily without any concern for how you felt. How can you call that love?" she asks while gently placing a hand on the side of his face and caressing his cheek lovingly. "I, on the other hand, watched over you for the longest of times. I wanted nothing more than to help you in your darkest times, but I could not since Tsunami had unrightfully claimed you as her Champion."

"What do you mean 'unrightfully'?"

"You were always destined to be my Champion, my Knight, my love," she starts just before leaning in and giving him a quick kiss on his lips. "Tsunami was closer to you when the moment came for you to gain your true powers and destiny, so she claimed you as hers, but I never ceased to watch over you. I protected you from yourself when you attempted to take your own life."

"That was you!?" he shouts louder than he meant to, causing several people passing by to give him strange looks.

"Yes," she chuckles, "that was my hand that kept you alive." She bites her lower lip and gives him a concerned look. "I placed a memory block on you that prevents you from relieving everything that happened to its fullest. Only in your dreams can you right now fully feel and see what happened. That is what has been giving you your headaches I am sorry to say. If you so desire, I can fully remove the block on your memory. Take heed though, since some of your old hateful and vengeful feelings may still be present, even though you fulfilled your revenge on your family."

Tenchi blinks several times. 'Is this what I want?' he asks himself. He looks into Tokimi's amazing blue and purple eyes and the unconditional love that is directed towards him. He knows what he wants to do, what he must do. "Do it," he says aloud in a firm voice.

Tokimi raised her right hand and places two fingers on his forehead. Instantly, Tenchi feels everything flow through him. All the memories of the decade that he experienced, all the thoughts, emotions and experiences are all back. He also feels his incredible power course through him once more. He looks questioningly to his beautiful wife.

She seems to have read his mind. "All of your powers were lying dormant inside of you. Now that the memory block is off, you can access your five Lighthawk Wings. I have also made it to where they will still remain hidden from the prying eyes of Tsunami and the annoying gadgetry of Washu."

The prince pulls her in close, the intense love also shining in his eyes. "You have always been, and always will be the guiding light in my life," he begins, his voice now sounding more assertive and confident. "I can never thank you enough for what you have done for me...my precious wife." He leans in and gives her a deep, passionate kiss, which the goddess gladly returns.

After several moments, they release one another form the kiss, though Tokimi remains in Tenchi's strong embrace. "So now that you know everything, what will you do?" she asks.

"I...I don't know," he truthfully answers.

Tokimi tightens her grip on him. "They have left you once before, and they will do so again. You need to do something different to change what happens. I cannot bear to see you go through the heartache and misery you had gone through before." Unshed tears begin to form in her incredible eyes.

Tenchi pats her head lightly and begins to talk soothingly into her ear, "I think I will just try to go with it one day at a time. I'm not going to make the same mistakes that I made before. I know now that Ryoko and I were never meant to be, it is you and I that were destined to be." His wife smiles warmly just before snuggling comfortably into his chest. "I'm not too sure how everyone will react to you, especially when they find out that we're together."

The goddess removes herself from his grasp and looks intently at him. "Perhaps we can keep this hidden from the others for the time being until you have fully adjusted to everything."

"I...guess we can try that, but what about you? Where will you stay?"

"I will remain in my dimension. I will visit as often as I can and, of course, I will be making routine visits into your dreams," she finishes while drawing circles on his chest like she did on their last dream encounter.

Tenchi smiles widely. "I'd like that." The couple shares another kiss and walk hand in hand towards the bus station. They make it there just in time as the bus pulls up.

Tokimi pulls her husband in close. "I will visit you later tonight. Until then..." she finishes while kissing him fiercely. While kissing, she places something in his right hand. When they both pull away, Tenchi opens his hand, revealing his wedding ring and a handsome silver necklace. He looks quizzically at her.

"Wear it around your neck with the ring. That way, our relationship will remain a secret from your family while a part of me stays close to your heart." Tokimi leans in and wraps her arms around him once more in a warm hug. She lets him go and watches on as he gets on the bus and sits down on a window seat that is facing her.

Tenchi smiles sadly at her and mouths, 'Goodbye my love,' as the bus begins to drive away. When Tokimi is out of sight, the prince slouches in his seat, beginning to feel depressed. "I miss her already," her mutters. He suddenly looks up, an evil glint in his eyes. "It's all their fault. If they weren't around I could just bring her home and live happily. They always do this to me." He quickly stops and shakes his head quickly. 'She was right, part of my old vengeance is still in me,' he thinks worriedly to himself.

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Just as the bus carrying her dear husband leaves her line of sight, Tokimi twirls around in a fast circle, a tremendous feeling of joy coursing through her entire being. "He still wants me!" she happily shouts.

"I want you too baby," a gruff voice says behind her.

The goddess turns around and sees three large, rather ragged looking men standing before her. She narrows her eyes in suspicion. "What is it that you want?" she asks in a firm voice.

"You heard me sweetheart," the man in the middle starts while slicking back his greasy black hair, "I want you." He takes a step forward and reaches out for her, but she quickly backs off.

"It would be quite wise for you three to leave my presence now," she says in a commanding voice.

The three men take one look at each other and then burst out laughing. The man in the middle is the first to regain his composure. "Sorry honey but none of us are leaving til we get whet we want and we all want you." The other two nod their heads and smile evilly at the young woman before them.

Tokimi huffs lightly and turns her head to the side. "I am already spoken for. I have no desires to be with you unworthy little men."

The greasy haired man growls lightly. "Like you have a decision in this. Besides, we can show you what real men are like, not like that wimpy little twerp you were just talking to."

That instantly gets her attention. She snaps her head towards the three men and narrows her eyes until they are just barely tiny slits. "What did you just say?" she asks dangerously.

"You heard me. I've got more manliness in my pinkie toe than that scrawny pathetic puss boy has in his entire body!" The two other men chuckle amusedly. They stop and stare in utter shock as Tokimi begins to radiate immense power. A dark aura surrounds her entire being and her eyes glow menacingly.

"One thing I will never tolerate," she hisses, "is someone who speaks badly about MY TENCHI!" Without warning, she charges the three men who only scream out in fear.

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After beating all three men senseless, she choose to pity them and not kill them, Tokimi dusts her hands off and smiles lightly. She looks at the heap of unconscious men in front of her and 'tsks' in annoyance. "If they had simply left me alone they would not have had to suffer, but they foolishly attempted to try something with me. And on top of that they insulted my dear sweet Tenchi. Simple-minded humans." She is surrounded with a brilliant white light and then appears back in her dimension back in her usual goddess garb.

A giant red jewel appears below her, which is soon followed by the demi god D3. "I assume that everything went well?"

"Even better than expected!" she squeals happily. Tokimi coughs lightly then regains her composure. "Tenchi is now fully aware of everything that previously happened to him. He also has full access to the powers bestowed to him. More so, he has come back to me!" she finishes with a smile

"But what of his family? What will the young Lord do with them now?"

The goddess frowns. "That remains to be seen."

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A strange sense of foreboding slowly fills inside of Tenchi as he walks up the steps from the bus stop to his house. It slowly increases with each step he takes. He is pretty sure that it is his old 'personality' that is making him feel this way. Suddenly, his house comes into view far in the distance and a rather large knot forms in his stomach.

"They are all alive. They are all okay. They haven't done anything to hurt me. I'm not going to hurt them." he starts to mutter under his breath. It works slightly as he feels the knot loosen. He sighs deeply and resumes walking towards his home.

The all too familiar sounds of a certain space pirate teleporting in nearby cause him to stop walking and brace for impact. Ryoko appears behind him her favorite blue and yellow striped dress with the tail belt attached. She wraps her arms around his neck and spins around him in a full circle. "Tenchi!" she squeals, "how was school?"

The prince's mood darkens when he thinks about the things he did to her, or will do in the future. He shakes those thoughts out and manages to force out a smile. "It was alright Ryoko. The instructor mainly taught us about basic shapes and such. There wasn't much to really learn about yet."

"Well I'm just glad that you're back," she replies while giving him a quick hug. She lets go and floats a few feet above the ground right next to him. "You were out a little bit longer than you said you were supposed to." Ryoko raises an eyebrow at him.

"Oh, I just met up with an old friend and we caught up a bit after class was over," Tenchi quickly responds.

"Oh. Okay then." She gives him a small smile. "Do you want me to keep you company for the rest of the walk home?"

He shrugs lightly. "I guess so," he replies, his mood starting to improve. "I mean it does get kinda lonely walking all this way by myself."

"Oh your poor thing," she coos at him. Tenchi and Ryoko share a brief chuckle. The pirate suddenly vanishes and reappears with her arms wrapped around the prince. "Tenchi," she purrs seductively into his left ear, "if you ever get lonely at night when you're in your bed, just call out to me. I'll be happy to keep you company." Her hands begin to roam around his chest and slowly work their way downwards.

Tenchi quickly stops her descent. "Thanks Ryoko, but I'm pretty sure I'll be fine by myself," he replies with a flat voice. He then continues to walk home, leaving a very confused space pirate floating behind him.

Ryoko scratches the top of her head while watching her love interest walk off. "That was strange," she mutters under her breath. The pirate teleports into the Masaki house and walks into Washu's lab. She is in the usual area with the trees and calm looks towards it.

The crab noisemaker and her link with her daughter alerts the little genius that she has just entered her lab. She stops typing away on her holo laptop and swivels around on her floating cushion to face her. "So what do you want my little Ryoko?"

"First off, stop calling me that!" Ryoko hisses at her mother. "Second, Tenchi just acted kinda weird to me a little bit ago."

"Really?" she asks, now completely interested in what her daughter has to say. "What happened?"

"Well, he was walking home and I came up to him and we talked a bit. Then I...well..."

"You glomped onto him and began to flirt with him," Washu finishes.

"Yeah," she admits while scratching the back of her head. "But this time...well you know how he usually turns all red and begins to sputter out words?"

"Yes I know," the genius chuckles, remembering the time she first showed Tenchi her real form and said that she'd like to have a child with him. "He can be so cute when he gets all hot and flustered like that!"

"That's just it!" Ryoko shouts. "He didn't do any of that! He just calmly took my hands off of him and said that he doesn't want to do anything!"

Washu scratches her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm...now that's interesting." She turns back to her holo laptop and starts typing away furiously. "There are a few possibilities as to why he reacted like that, but I can't be totally sure if it's any of them until I can watch over him and monitor his behavior a bit."

"Okay, so what could be going on with him?"

"Maybe he finally choose and its not you," she answers flatly.

"Hell no," the pirate spits out while punching a fist into her palm. "Tenchi's just started to open up and start to go out a bit with me. There's no way I'm giving him up without a fight!" Energy begins to spark out of her.

Washu waves her hands around desperately trying to calm her daughter down. "Wait! Stop! I just said that that is a possibility, not what is actually happening! It is also quite doubtful since he spends most of his time here!"

"...If it's Ayeka..." Ryoko snorts out just before forming an energy sword and slicing a few trees into pieces.

"CALM DOWN!" the eccentric scientist shouts. Her daughter dissipates her sword and floats cross legged in mid air, her tail twitching behind her in an angry fashion. "Okay," Washu sighs, "like I was trying to say before you mutilated my trees, has Tenchi been spending any more time with Ayeka than he has with you?"

"No," she quickly replies, her head turned to the side.

"Then maybe it's not that. Maybe, just maybe, our little Tenchi is starting to grow up."

Ryoko lands on the floor and walks up to her mother. "What do you mean?"

"Well Tenchi is practically an adult now. Did you always expect him to get all embarrassed when you offer him sex?" The pirate opens her mouth to answer, but closes it hastily, a light blush coming to her face. Washu chuckles lightly at her daughter. "I thought so. My guess right now is that Tenchi is finally maturing. You've spent the last year or so constantly wrapping your arms around him and saying dirty little things to him. It looks like he's now getting used to it. Took him long enough," she finishes with another chuckle.

"Okay, so he's starting to grow up. What does that mean for me?"

"You, my little Ryoko, need to play your cards straight. He's already taking both you and Ayeka out on dates to get closer to you two, but I think that he just might be getting interested in some of the things you've been offering him all the time."

"But why didn't he accept my offer earlier?" the pirate whines.

"Give it a little time," Washu calmly states. "When you're around him, act a little more reserved, don't flirt as much. If you're not shoving it in his face as much, he'll actually become more interested in it."

"Really?"

"Yep. I'm not just the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe, but I'm also a Master of Seduction!" she finishes while standing proudly before her daughter.

"If you're such a 'Master,' then why haven't you been able to get Tenchi?" she laughs loudly.

"Watch it Ryoko," Washu warns. "I've only been playing around with him. If I really apply myself, I'll have my cute little guinea pig giving me all the samples I need, plus he'll happily want to have a child with me, and then some!" She stops as Ryoko raises an energy sword to her throat.

"Now it's you who should watch it. Tenchi's mine and mine alone. I've waited for a very long time to be with him and I'm not letting anybody take him away from me. I'm letting him date Ayeka too because I really don't feel like her becoming an even bigger royal bitch around me."

"Alright, alright," the little genius sighs. A small beep from her holo laptop diverts her attention. "Tenchi's just walked inside the house," she says lightly to Ryoko.

The pirate's mood instantly changes. A large smile spreads across her face. "Well that's my cue then." She teleports out of the lab.

Washu pushes a button on her laptop and the screen changes to a hidden camera showing the front door, where Tenchi has just walked in. "I'm home!" he shouts.

Ryoko suddenly appears next to him. She scratches the back of her head nervously. "Hey Tenchi, sorry for leaving you on your way home, but I...uh...I remembered that Washu wanted to run a few quick tests on my powers."

"Good one," the self-proclaimed 'Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe' mutters. "There's still hope yet for her."

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"I think not Washu," Tokimi proudly states in her dimension. "In fact, nothing is going along as you planned. Tenchi is my husband and very soon now you and everyone else will know that he is mine!"

To be continued...

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Author's notes: I'm sorry I took so long to make this Chapter but I've been having difficulties on where the story should go. With 'The Darkness Within' I had almost everything readily planned out before I even started to write it. I'm sorta out on a whim with this series but I will try as hard as I can to make this series rival, possibly even surpass the original. Thanks for bearing with me. -- lighthawkdemon

Questions or comments? E-mail me at: lighthawkdemon@yahoo.com