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 12:
Changing Sides

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Ayeka lies in her futon, as she has been for the last several hours. Her eyes are red and puffy from crying and tear streaks run down her face. The thoughts...or were they memories?...that Tokimi placed in her head brought upon a small mental breakdown for the crown princess of Jurai. They way she had simply left her beloved...or did she love him as much as she originally thought?...Tenchi behind, which began his downfall and descent into near madness and pain beyond anything she has ever seen or felt before terrifies and disgusts her. "What have I done?" she whispers, starting to rock back and forth again. "What have we all done?"

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Meanwhile, Tenchi and Tokimi sit down on their bed, the goddess having just explained what happened to her husband. "So that was Washu?" the prince asks, rubbing the back of his head.

"Yes dear it was. From what I read of the mind of Princess Ayeka, her, Washu and Ryoko were devising some plot to pull you away from me and into their arms." She crosses her arms and pouts slightly, looking absolutely adorable to her husband.

Tenchi wraps an arm around her, and the goddess leans her head on his shoulder. "I don't get why they'd do something like that," the prince sighs, shaking his head. "It just...well it just seems so unlike them."

"Love can make you do strange things," Tokimi says in a barely audible whisper.

"What was that?" her husband asks, leaning closer.

The goddess stands up and faces Tenchi, a smile on her face while she sticks her tongue out at him. "Nothing," she giggles. Her smile fades as her beloved stands up and slowly walks up to her, a somewhat sly smile on his face. "Tenchi, what are you..." her question is cut short as the young man in front of her suddenly grabs her by her waist and lifts her up. The goddess lets out a squeak of surprise as he spins her around and plops her onto their bed. Her beautiful eyes are wide with mild curiosity. "Tench...ah!" she shrieks as Tenchi begins to tickle her sides furiously. He uses his left arm to hold her hands down above her head while his right continues on with the tickling. She squirms and thrashes under his grasp, but with only enough strength to put up a good struggle for her dear husband. Tokimi gets one of her arms loose and goes in for a counterstrike.

The young man above her stiffens as he feels a long, slender arm reach under his shirt and slowly rake up along his chest. He stops tickling her and pins her arms down against him, but the goddess uses his moment of distraction to free her other arm and goes straight for his armpits, his main ticklish spot. Using her powers, Tokimi flips both her and Tenchi so now he is pinned underneath her while she tickles him mercilessly.

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Outside the house, Ryoko finishes drying herself the best she can, mumbling angrily the entire time. "What the hell is up with Ayeka?" she growls. Satisfied that she is looking perfect as usual, besides her clothes being slightly damp, the pirate teleports into the house just inside the front door. She begins to float up the stairs, intent on having a little discussion with a certain royal princess. "That damn prude's gonna get a piece of my mind, messing with me like that." She just reaches the top of the stairs when a voice calls from down below.

"Ryoko, stop." The pirate turns around to see her mother looking up at her, a somber look on her face while she rubs her nose gingerly. "Come on down here."

The former space pirate complies, a strangled smile on her face. "Boy, that was fast," she comments. "I'd have thought Tenchi would've gone a bit longer than that!" Her smile fades at the look Washu is giving her. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"Tokimi knew about the plan," the genius answers, rubbing her nose again. "I don't know how she found out, but she did and she came barging in disguised as Ayeka..."

"Wait a minute!" Ryoko loudly interrupts. "That was Tokimi?!"

Washu sighs deeply, shaking her head. "Yeah, that was her. I guess she fooled you into opening the door, judging by your damp clothes." The pirate flushes with anger. "And then she barged in and dragged me out of the room and downstairs before it got good between me and Tenchi...and I was so close!" she moans, stomping her foot on the ground, acting more like she would in her younger form. The newly restored goddess sighs grumpily. "Any way, Tokimi changed back to her original form then hit me with a uppercut in the gut followed by a nasty punch to my face, which broke my nose. I just fixed it and it still stings, that's why I keep on rubbing it."

"You okay?" Ryoko asks with a raised eyebrow. She is surprised at the extreme bitterness in her mother's voice each time she mentions her younger sister's name. The distaste in her voice and the hatred in her eyes is even more profound then when she mentions Kagato, and she hated him with a passion. The pirate involuntarily shudders at the thought of that evil bastard who controlled her and tortured her for so long. Tenchi may have killed him a little over a year ago, but his memory still lives on, something that is a constant source of nightmares for Ryoko.

The genius notices the surge of feelings flowing from her daughter. There is only person that can make her feel so afraid and unimaginably angry at the same time. 'Kagato,' Washu thinks, her mind now focusing on her former star pupil. One thing that Ryoko doesn't know about her mother is that she is plagued by the same nightmares that her daughter has, only from a slightly different, but no less horrifying perspective. Having to helplessly watch as your child is mindlessly forced to do such horrible and indescribable acts is torture enough, but having to read her thoughts as she slowly becomes a shell of her former beautiful and graceful self is enough to drive someone to the brink of madness and beyond.

Overcome by past emotions, Washu suddenly embraces her daughter, tears quickly embraces her daughter, holding her like she once used to many thousands of years ago. "It's okay my little Ryoko," she whispers in a calm, motherly voice. "We'll get through this, I promise."

Something about the way Washu is holding her and her soft, soothing voice sparks a very distant and long forgotten memory inside of the pirate. She returns the hug, laying her head onto her mother's shoulder. "Thank you...mom."

The genius smiles happily. Perhaps not everything is going downhill for her like she originally thought it all was.

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Outside in the floating onsen, Sasami is calmly relaxing, taking a break from her daily grind, like her sister asked her to. 'Wow, this is really nice!' she thinks with a smile. 'I haven't relaxed like this in a long time. I'm so glad that Ayeka told me to take a break!' She looks up as she suddenly hears people enter the onsen. The young princess lets out a strangled squeak as Tenchi and Tokimi come into view, both only wearing towels. "T-T-Tenchi!" she starts, her voice rising as her face reddens. "I'm sorry! I didn't know you two were coming in!" She stands up and begins to hurriedly go to the changing rooms.

As she passes the happy couple, Tenchi stops her by gently placing a hand on her shoulder, his other hand holding onto a small bucket with essential materials for going into the onsen, mainly lots of saké. "It's okay Sasami, you don't have to leave. Tokimi and I are just going to relax in the onsen a bit. You can sit with us if you'd like."

The young princess takes a quick glance at Tokimi, who nods slightly with a warm smile. "O...okay," she replies with a small smile of her own.

The trio makes their way into the very warm waters, each letting out a relaxed sigh as they sink in, with Tokimi sitting in between her husband and Sasami. The prince reaches into the bucket and pulls out a small bottle of saké and two cups. He pours a little into each one and passes the first cup to his loving wife, keeping the other for himself. The goddess takes her cup, and pauses as she focuses her powers to ensure that the saké she is about to drink doesn't affect her developing child in any way. With a satisfied smile, she begins to take a sip, but pauses as she notices the way Sasami is looking at her. Pulling the cup back a bit, she slowly swishes the contents of the cup around, watching out of the corner of her eye as the young princess' big pink eyes follow it, looking interested, yet slightly hesitant.

"Do you want to try some?" the goddess asks, moving the cup in front of the young girl.

Sasami's eyes go wide at being noticed and her cheeks turn a lovely shade of red as she sinks her head under the water, where only her forehead and the top of her head are visible. Tenchi and his lovely wife laugh at her adorable antics. The young princess resurfaces, a guilty look on her face. She twirls a finger through her long, light blue hair. "Well I see Ryoko drinking it all the time, and everybody else does once in a while...I just wanted to try it and see how it's like."

Tenchi wraps an arm around his wife and leans in closer. "If you want to, you can take a small sip. I don't mind, do you dear?" he asks Tokimi.

"Not at all," the goddess replies, giving the princess her cup.

Sasami takes it, although very hesitantly. "Are...are you sure? I mean I am still kinda young."

"Positive," the prince answers, giving off his patented warm smile. "My dad let me try some a long time ago, and I was even younger than you."

The young princess looks at the couple one more time, a nervous anticipation now adorning her sweet features. She lifts the cup to her lips and takes a small sip. She moves it back while wrinkling up her nose. "It tastes kinda funny," she replies. Tenchi and Tokimi begin to chuckle at her comment, but don't notice the young princess begin to drink the saké again. They both look back at her, just as she finishes drinking out of the cup. Sasami looks over at them, and smiles guiltily at the two sets of astonished looks she is receiving. Mustering together the most innocent look she can make, which isn't working as well as usual because of the saké induced flush on her cheeks, the little princess simple asks, "What?"

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Down the hill and in town, Mihoshi, fresh from another midday nap, strolls along the street, doing a little window-shopping. She passes by a coffee shop, but pauses as she recognizes two figures sitting inside. With a bounce in her step, she turns around and walks inside. "Hi there!" the blonde cheerily says, startling the two older men sitting down in front of her.

"Well hello there Mihoshi!" Nobuyuki happily replies, folding the paper he was reading.

Katsuhito nods at the vibrant young woman in front of him as his son-in- law, a slight smile on his face. "Greetings Mihoshi. What brings you down in town today?"

"I was doing some shopping," she holds up her bags to show them, "and then I saw you guys sitting in here and I haven't seen you two all day and I was wondering what you were doing so I came in to say hi and show off some of the things that I just got."

The elder of the two Masaki men nods again while taking a sip of his hazelnut cream decaffeinated coffee, the first time he has really gone with anything besides his usual green herbal tea. Nobuyuki convinced him to try something new for a change, that he needs to open up to new ideas once in a while. Katsuhito is finding this new beverage very different, but not at all unpleasant.

"Well that's nice Mihoshi," Nobuyuki kindly replies. He moves aside slightly and pulls up a seat. "Come on and sit down and have a something to drink. I'll pay," he offers, smiling as the blonde's big beautiful eyes light up.

"Really?! Oh thank you!" Mihoshi cheerily sits down, placing her bags beside her. The waitress, a rather attractive dark haired young woman, walks up and takes the blonde's order, a coconut cream frappuchino with sprinkles, and leaves with a warm smile. After a couple of minutes, she returns and the blonde happily takes her drink, thanking Nobuyuki profusely. She pauses for a moment, a small smidgen of whipped cream on the tip of her nose. "Oh yeah, what are you guys doing here? I'm so sorry I forgot to ask when I got here but I was so surprised and happy to see you and everything and...oh dear! I'm sorry!" Her face flushes with embarrassment. "I didn't mean to keep going on?"

Both men in front of her chuckle good naturedly at her innocent antics. "I figured it was about time for Nobuyuki and myself to get out of the house and have a peaceful, relaxing day for a change."

"Yeah," the younger of the two men agrees. "Things have been so crazy lately. It feels nice to just get out and leave all of your problems behind, if only for a few hours." He takes a sip of his coffee and looks back to the paper in his hands. "Tokimi is a really good woman, and I'm proud that Tenchi has finally fallen in love with someone who loves him back just as much, if not more. I'm going to like being a grandpa," he adds with a goofy grin, thoughts of lots and lots of little grandchildren dancing around in his head.

Mihoshi takes a large drink from her cup, lavishing in its sweet contents. She pulls the cup back, still oblivious to the now larger spot of cream on her nose. "She is really nice. I was taking a bath yesterday and she came in and we talked for a while." Her cheery face suddenly contorts into a light frown. "I always hoped that Tenchi would fall in love with me and we could be together, but I'm just glad that he's happy now." Her bright smile lights up the entire coffee shop.

Katsuhito allows a rare warm smile to show as he looks at the young blonde woman. "You know Mihoshi," he begins, "someday you will make a very fine wife to a very lucky man."

The GP officer lowers her head, her entire face reddening at the compliment. "T...thank you," while the Masaki men begin to chuckle at her again.

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Some time later, Ryoko and Washu are talking to one another in the living room, each discussing recent events while drinking some tea the genius concocted out of nowhere. "So how do you think she found out?" Ryoko asks, the subject, of course being Tokimi. "Do you think Ayeka told her, cause if she did..." she begins to squeeze the cup she is holding like it is someone's neck, strangling it.

"Impossible," Washu comments between sips, "the three of us made a pact not to speak a word of our plan to another living soul, and I know that Ayeka can be a lot of things that aren't exactly fitting for a Royal Princess, but she is loyal and honest. I went up to her room earlier and I checked in on her. She was...I don't know the best word for it...really out of it. Something was bugging her big time, but she told me that she didn't say anything to Tokimi and I believe her."

"What's wrong with Ayeka?" The pirate asks, in a tone that sounds on the verge of concern. "Did something happen to her?"

The genius sighs deeply, shaking her head slightly. "I have no idea, and she wouldn't let me really get a chance to check her out. She just seemed really distraught over something, and I haven't ever seen her like this." She takes a sip of her tea. "Let's not talk about Ayeka right now. When she's ready, she'll tell us what's wrong."

"Okay," Ryoko replies with a shrug. As she is about to drink the rest of her tea, she pauses and takes a look around, a curious look on her face. "Say, it's pretty quiet around here. Where's everybody at?"

Just at that moment, Tenchi and Sasami come walking in, both looking refreshed. The prince looks at the two women sitting on the couch and shoots an accusing glance over in their direction, getting both to suddenly find the floor very interesting, a heavy blush adorning their faces. The young princess, on the other hand, skips on over to them, stumbling slightly. She carelessly plops down next to Ryoko and smiles widely. "Hi Ryoko! Hi Washu!"

The pirate is about to say hi back, when she notices something off about Sasami. She has an unnatural flush on her cheeks and her eyes seem to quickly slip in and out of focus. As she breathes out, the pirate detects a certain favored smell coming from her. Ryoko leans in close, narrowing her eyes. "Sasami, have you been drinking?"

The young princess' blush deepens heavily and she looks down at her lap, not wanting to say anything, but obviously telling the answer. Both Ryoko and Washu quickly look over at Tenchi, but he is gone, a dust trail in his place.

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Ayeka slowly sits up, her eyes finally dry from crying herself out. She stands up and dusts her kimono off and straightens out her hair, trying to make herself presentable. She turns around, but falls down in surprise.

Tokimi stands before Ayeka, a serious look on her beautiful face. "Have you understood?" the goddess asks. "Do you understand what those horrible images in your mortal brain are?" She leans in dangerously close, her blue and purple eyes penetrating Ayeka's soul.

The crown princess of Jurai shakes her head slightly, the fear etched on her face. "N-No..." she stutters, "I do not understand. What are they? What do they mean?"

The goddess stands up to her full height, placing her hands on her hips. "What I have shown you is what was supposed to happen in the future. Tenchi was supposed to have chosen my pathetic little niece...and you have seen what becomes of it. You," she proclaims while pointing a finger at Ayeka, "you were the cause of all of his pain and suffering. You brought all of this upon my beloved Tenchi. Your arrogant and selfish actions were the beginning of his plummet into near madness and self-destruction. I saved his life countless times before I could finally free him from the prison you and the others built around him. He was just about to be fully free and live with me by his side and be truly happy when once again, your family intervenes and brings him back down into the depths of self-loathing and he was about to take his life again." Tears begin to fall from her eyes. "He was too far into killing himself for me to stop it, so I did the only thing I could, by reverting time back a safe distance and keeping his memories and powers hidden until he was ready." A small smile works its way out. "I was fortunate enough that he wanted me back on such a strong emotional subconscious level that his conscious mind readily accepted my entrance back into his life."

"But why?" Ayeka asks, getting back to her feet. "Why all this deception? Why could you not just reveal everything to us at the beginning?"

Tokimi slowly, deliberately takes small strides around the princess, her hard gaze never leaving her eyes. "Some minds are ready for such drastic changes, while others are not. Tenchi was ready, you and the others were not. In fact, you, Princess Ayeka, were still not ready when I showed you the truth, and you have felt the consequences." The princess winces in memory of the deep emotional and slightly physical pain she has just undergone. "So now you know the truth. The main question now is what shall you do now with the knowledge you possess?"

"I...I am unsure," she truthfully answers. "Everything is still so confusing. My memories are all in a jumble, and my head is hurting terribly trying to organize everything." She is slightly startled by two hands grasping her shoulders from behind.

"They cannot be organized like regular memories since some of them have already occurred yet have not, while others have not even happened yet. Your mind will not be able to store them away like you would any other event you experience. They will find their own place in your mind, you just need to give them time." She turns Ayeka around, so they are facing one another again. "I have another question for you: are you still against Tenchi and I being together and the child that is on the way?"

The princess lowers her head, a few tears escaping her. "No, not any more. With what I have seen, Miss Ryoko, Miss Washu and myself are completely undeserving of his love...even his friendship."

Tokimi places a finger under Ayeka's chin and lifts her head back up. A genuine smile appears on her luscious red lips. "Then I see this has worked for the better." She turns around and begins to leave, but is stopped by Ayeka gently taking her arm. The goddess turns around to face the princess again. "Yes? Is there something more?" Her eyes widen in surprise as Ayeka kneels down before, taking her hand in both of hers. "What are you doing?"

"As...as of now, I am making amends for all the wrongs I have done and all of the pain and suffering I have caused. I do not wish for what originally happened to actually happen, and I will use any means necessary to prevent it. Washu and Ryoko have yet to 'see the light' so to speak, but I have, and I thank you for showing me those truths. To help you and Lord Tenchi through all of this chaos and ensure your happy future as well as a good life for your child, I...I will side with you. You have not only saved Tenchi's life, but mine any the lives of everyone else in this household. As a royal princess of the planet Jurai, I feel it is only right that my life be indebted to you. I...I will help and serve you in any means necessary."

Tokimi's shock is quickly replaced by a strange smile, not good, not evil, but somewhere in between. "Your idea of making amends is manageable and I believe this is a golden opportunity for me to take. I will accept your proposal and your life will be indebted to me." She places a hand on Ayeka's shoulder. "Arise, my loyal servant!"


To be continued...

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Author's notes: Well there is my newest story, and my newest plot twist! Yeah, I know, wasn't seeing that one coming did you? Tokimi's list of friends and allies in the Masaki household is slowly growing while her number of enemies begins to diminish. What are Ryoko and Washu gonna do now? Keep patient to find out! - lighthawkdemon

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