Tenchi Muyo!

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 ©1992-2004 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.

The Return to Darkness
Chapter 15:
Family Secrets, Part Two

Yosho's eyes widen as his grandson raises his sword, the Tenchi-ken high above his head, aiming it down at the older man's heart. 'He does indeed intend to kill me!' he thinks in shock, feeling fear at the bloodthirsty look in Tenchi's eyes, something he hasn't truly felt in a very long time. 'I had never expected to fall at the hands of my own blood, but if this is my destiny, then I will accept it.' The older man spreads out his arms, leaving himself completely open. "If this is how I die, then let it be, but please Tenchi…make it quick. I do not wish to suffer. A swift death in battle, it is a true warrior's death." He closes his eyes and awaits the inevitable.

Tenchi's sword falters at his grandfather's words. Though part of him wants nothing more than to tear the old man apart for all of his lies, deceit and cowardice, the more rational part of his mind wants to put all the hatred and killing behind him. Tokimi suddenly appears next to him and places a hand on his shoulder. "What will you do dearest? The choice you make now shall very well determine your fate…and the fates of all those who dwell within this universe. Please…choose wisely and remember the things you risk losing with the wrong choice." She pointedly looks down at her belly after saying this.

The young Masaki looks between his wife next to him, his grandfather on the ground, the rest of his family all standing just outside the house and finally down at his hands, which just a few moments ago were so ready to kill again. A look of horror spreads across his face. "Oh…oh my God! What was I about to do?" The energy blade disappears as he drops the ancient Master Key. Tenchi backs away, his entire body trembling heavily. 'I was about to kill my grandfather…again,' he thinks in agony, falling to his knees. "I'm a horrible person."

His lovely wife kneels down behind him and wraps her arms around the young Masaki in a warm embrace. "Do not worry beloved," she softly whispers into his ear, "you were not to blame for your actions. You were overcome with grief and anger, it can happen to the best of us, and you are not a horrible person. You are the most incredible man I have ever met and I am proud to have you as my husband." She looks over to Yosho, who is getting to his feet while the rest of the household rushes over to him. "Let us retire to our room, I suspect an air of unease will grow around both you and I if we are to remain around the others while in their current state." When he nods slightly, she leans in and kisses his cheek just before they vanish, going up to their room for a bit.

Ayeka takes one last look at her family before turning around and rushing inside, intent on finding out Tenchi's status. 'I do hope that Lord Tenchi is alright,' she worriedly thinks to herself while climbing up the stairs. 'I know Lady Tokimi can take care of him, but she is in a delicate state herself. I must make myself useful and help out as much as I can.'

Back outside, Airi worriedly looks her husband up and down. "Are you injured?" When he calmly shakes his head no, a sour expression spreads across her face just before she slaps his forehead hard with a resounding smack.

"Ouch," Yosho replies, rubbing the spot furiously. "Why did you do that for Airi?"

"For being so stupid!" she shouts, moving his arm out of the way so she can slap his forehead again. "I can understand you stretching the truth to both Tenchi and Nobuyuki in the beginning, but you should have known that I would eventually return to Earth. Why didn't you tell them the full truth? You've had quite some time to let them know, and I'm sure they would have been quite understanding and we could have avoided this entire confrontation." She worriedly looks behind her at the house, mainly at Tenchi's window.

The former prince of Jurai blinks a few times, genuinely surprised. 'I had never thought about that before. How could such an easy answer have slipped so easily through my grasp?' He sighs deeply and lowers his head, muttering, "I guess my better half did go away when you left years ago," with a light smile.

Both of Airi's eyebrows rise up at that comment, but it quickly turns into a warm smile. "Come on you great fool," she begins, taking his hand in hers, "let's go inside. I'll make you some tea, just the way you like it."

"Yes, dear."

The GPA chairwoman begins to walk back to the house, motioning for everyone else to follow. "Come now, I will make tea for you all. There is much that needs to be discussed between us all, including my grandson and his new wife." She notes, once again, how tense a few of the people in front of her get, mainly Ryoko and Washu. 'Judging by the reaction of those two, there is more going on here underneath the surface than there appears.'

"I'll help you with the tea," Sasami meekly adds, still shaken at how angry and vicious Tenchi was just a little bit ago. 'I know it was wrong of grandpa to lie to him and Mr. Masaki, but it was very wrong for Tenchi to attack grandpa like that too. I want to help, but I don't know what to do. I'm so confused.' Her head droops slightly in sadness.

Ryo-Ohki, now in her child form, walks beside the young princess. She looks up at her close friend, noticing the troubled look on her face. Not knowing what to do, she moves closer to Sasami and grabs her hand, giving her a soft, "Mya," of encouragement. She smiles brightly as the young princess squeezes her hand lightly in return and giggles.

While the rest of the family slowly returns to the living room, Seto says behind the group, her mind moving a mile a minute. 'I must congratulate Airi on her quick thinking. Perhaps now I can learn more about this Tokimi woman and what her full influence is on Tenchi.' An uncomfortable shudder overcomes her. 'That black aura! I have never seen anything so dark and sinister before. Had he not been stopped, I sincerely believe he would have killed Yosho. As a Prince of Jurai, he has no right to do such a thing, especially to another member of the Jurai Royal Family.' She sighs deeply and looks to the sky. 'Now it is more imperative than ever to discover everything I possibly can and more. I do not wish to see a tragedy befall this family, especially in front of the young, pure eyes of my Lady's avatar.' That last part brings a light smile across her face. "To think," she mutters out loud, "that the very supreme being that I serve and worship with every fiber of my being will assimilate with my very own granddaughter and become one with her in a little over a decade. The future proves to be quite entertaining on that subject."

Upstairs, Tokimi is sitting down on her bed while her devoted husband rests his head on her lap, his eyes closed with a content smile on his face. The goddess runs her fingers through Tenchi's hair while her other hand gently rubs her belly. "I was concerned ever so slightly while you battled against grandfather," she says in her honey sweet voice.

The young Juraian prince opens his eyes, his smile slowly fading. "Yeah, I kinda lost it there. I'm sorry."

"Do not be beloved," she whispers, leaning down and kissing his forehead lightly. "I know you would not have disposed of grandfather, the kind soul within you would not have allowed you to commit such an act. I am more concerned about Princess Seto, the so-called 'Devil Princess of Jurai.' I know her intentions for arriving here now are not of the noblest. She has had a glimpse of your powers and I believe she will not stop until she has discovered everything about us. She is devious and cunning, and to top it off, she is the most loyal servant of my little sister Tsunami. Seto does all of the dirty business that Tsunami does not want her fingers soiled in."

"Not like you," Tenchi mutters, his smile reappearing. "You enjoy getting involved in all your little projects, and you don't mind getting dirty at all."

Tokimi shifts her position comfortably to where she and her husband's faces are practically touching. "You know I love to get dirty…and in more ways than one." They are just about to kiss when a soft knock on their door interrupts them. The goddess focus her attention at the door, a light sigh escaping her as she sees Ayeka standing anxiously on the other side. "You may enter Princess," she calmly replies.

The door opens and the crown princess of Jurai enters, fidgeting slightly. "P-Please forgive my intrusion, but I was concerned about Lord Tenchi."

The young prince sits up and smiles warmly at his great-aunt. "Don't worry about me Ayeka, I'm fine…though I did sorta lose it earlier. I didn't mean to, its just seeing grandma again after all these years and finding out that grandpa's been lying to me and Dad all this time about it…it was too much for me to take. I'm sorry," he mutters, bowing his head down in shame.

Tokimi leans in and wraps her arms around her beloved, helping to comfort him. Ayeka watches on with a yearning look in her eyes, something that is quickly noted by the goddess. 'His other side is free,' she mentally tells the princess. 'I do not mind you showing affection to Tenchi, only as long as both he and I accept it.'

Ayeka's eyes widen and she starts to fidget slightly. 'Are…are you sure? I-I mean…' a faint blush appears on her cheeks, 'I do not think it would be appropriate.'

'I do not think that it is,' the goddess replies, snuggling closer to Tenchi, the young man responding by wrapping his right arm around her and squeezing her shoulder affectionately. 'I have seen into his thoughts, and he is curious about you. I know you would never try to steal him from me, so I do not mind sharing him.' She looks over at Tenchi and he looks back at her, the mental conversation now switching in between the two of them. After a few moments, they both turn their heads to the princess, small smiles on both of their faces. 'He does not mind either, as long as it is fine with you and it will make you happy.'

Tears fill her lovely crimson eyes as her hands dart up to cover her mouth and hide her trembling lips. With a light cry, she leaps into the married couple's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "I-I do not deserves such kindness!" she cries. "I know what I was supposed to do in the future…and I am such a terrible and dishonorable person for it!"

Tokimi gently moves the princess over so she is fully in Tenchi's embrace. The goddess gives him a nod and a loving smile before standing up and exiting the room, leaving the two alone. 'She is in a fragile state beloved,' the goddess mentally tells her husband, 'so please be careful with her. I know what you would like to do, and I can sense she is interested also. I have no objections with this action…as long as you still have ample energy left for me later,' she adds with a sly smile, feeling it widen as she senses the similar smile and light blush Tenchi has.

The young prince pulls Ayeka in tight, one hand rubbing her back soothingly while the other gently combs through her long purple hair. "It's okay Ayeka, you have nothing to be sorry about. The future hasn't happened yet…and we've already changed how everything was originally going to happen, so please…stop your crying." He slowly lifts her face up, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "There you go." He suddenly leans in and catches her lips in a quick, yet wonderful kiss.

Ayeka's eyes flutter as Tenchi's lips leave hers, a deep feeling of want and need starting to burn deep inside of her. "O…Oh…Lord Tenchi," she whispers before going in for another kiss, only this one lasting a bit longer. She gently places her hands on his broad shoulders and slowly slides them down his chest, feeling the lean muscles underneath his shirt. She lets out a muffled squeak as Tenchi grabs her hips and pulls her into his lap.

He backs off for a moment, both breathing deeply. "Y-You know…I've always wanted to be this close to you Ayeka."

"And…And I you," she replies with a deep blush. The crown princess of Jurai pushes Tenchi down onto the bed and continues to passionately kiss him, giving in to all the desires she has held within her for her whole life. She momentarily pushes away from their special moment to look him directly in the eyes, a fire steadily burning in her own. "Please Lor…I-I mean Tenchi…I wish for this to continue further." A healthy blush graces her cheeks after she says this. "I am ready…but please…be gentle."

The Knight of Tokimi lets out one of his patented smiles, the one that radiates warmth and care. "Ayeka," he calmly begins, caressing the side of her face lovingly, "you know I can't be anything but."

"I know," she smiles as she goes back down, sealing his lips with hers. Their assorted clothes soon litter the floor as they express all their feelings for each other for the very first time.

Tokimi smiles to herself at the good deed she has done for her loyal servant and her beloved. She mutters, "I foresee our loyalties to each other growing to even greater heights with this latest action," under her breath. The goddess begins to rub her belly gently, humming a soothing tune as she walks down the stairs. She enters the living room, ignoring everyone around her, and calmly enters the kitchen, her child demanding some nourishment.

Everyone in the living room watches as the goddess walks past them without even a glance in their direction. Washu's eyes narrow at her sister's odd behavior. 'Strange,' she thinks, 'Tokimi seems so…comfortable and relaxed, despite the fact that she knows that Ryoko and I are plotting against her. She's come into our lives and pretty much wrecked everything we've built up, and yet she is acting like she hasn't done anything wrong.' Her eyebrows perk up in thought. 'I wonder if she is controlling Tenchi's mind. It would make sense since he just suddenly begins to act a little off and then brings her into the scene, and they're married and she's pregnant.' Her thoughts are interrupted by a hand being softly placed onto her shoulder. The newly awakened goddess turns her head to see Airi looking at her with a concerned expression.

"Are you okay Miss Washu?" she asks. "You have become awfully quiet all of a sudden."

"Sorry," the adult red head mutters, "I was just a little lost in thought." Without saying another word, she stands from her seat and walks off into the kitchen, intent on having a chat with her little sister.

She walks in to see Tokimi making a small plate of leftover rice, fish and some cooked vegetables. Sensing the familiar presence behind her, the goddess turns around and smiles lightly at her older sister. "Well hello Washu, are you finished chatting with the others already, or have you finally decided to converse with me after your exceptionally long silence?"

The red head tries to remain calm, despite the fact that she is terribly upset at her sister for slowly tearing apart her family in this house. "Cut the pleasantries Tokimi, I am not interested." She quickly closes the distance between them, pointing an accusing finger up at the Masaki woman. "I want to know what you are up to…and how you are controlling Lord Tenchi's mind."

Tokimi had been expecting the first part of her older sister's demand to come for quite some time now, but the second part of it genuinely surprises and angers her. "How dare you make such an assumption," she hisses, shoving Washu's finger away rather forcefully. "The love both Tenchi and I share is pure and true. I was there for him when you and the others were not, I was the one he said he loved and desired to wed and I am the one who is bearing his child and will bring it into this world!" She takes a deep breath and calms herself down continuing on, "I am upset that your paranoia and jealousy have given you such horrible notions about me."

Washu's right eye twitches a bit after Tokimi finishes talking. "I know I am many things, but jealous and paranoid are two things I am not. I just know you quite well…and the means you have gone to to get what you want. I don't know of any means used to succeed that you think are below you, so mind control seems like something you would do without a second thought. I haven't seen or heard from you in 20,000 years, and its been even longer for Tsunami, yet we still have no idea what you have been doing during our long absences and I do not think that I will ever fin…" she is halted by Tokimi quickly holding up a hand to silence her.

"Though you make a valid argument, I am not controlling the minds of anybody here, I can guarantee you that. You can take a brain scan of every single person in this house if you so desire, but I can tell you the end result of any test or scan you take: every action they have and will take as well as their thoughts and spoken words have been and will be made all of their own free will. Now if you excuse me," she picks up her tray of food and drink and carefully exits out the back door to eat outside at the entrance of the woods and enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature all around her.

Back inside, Washu watches her younger sister leave, more questions now appearing in her mind. "I don't know how," she muses out loud, "but I think I spooked her somehow. What did I say that got to her?" She taps her chin a few times in thought. "Hmm…I was pondering on what things she has been up to since I've been gone right before she stopped me…maybe there's something about the past that's got her acting unusually skittish…and what did she mean by she being there for Tenchi when the others and myself weren't? We've never left his side since we all arrived here."

Back in the living room, Sasami, Nobuyuki and Yosho have finished telling Airi and Seto all that they know about Tokimi and her relationship with Tenchi. Ryoko did help at first, but her information quickly proved to be very biased against the woman who unfairly stole her Tenchi away from her. Airi keeps relatively quiet, trying to digest all the information she has just heard. 'This is…quite a lot to take in!' she thinks to herself. 'I had heard stories about Tsunami and Jurai, but finding out that she is actually real and has two older sister goddess…and that one of them is married to my grandson and pregnant!' she looks down at her drink with a light frown. 'I-I think I need a drink stronger than this tea.'

"I see," the 'Devil Princess of Jurai' mutters, now sitting down on one of the couches with a hot cup of tea in her hands that her granddaughter and Airi brought in earlier, "This is quite the unexpected ordeal we are now in." She looks around to those gathered around her. "So what do you all plan to do?"

Nobuyuki wisely chooses this moment to stand up and walk upstairs to his office, which is also seconds as Mihoshi's room, not wanting to be any part of anything that might go against his son and daughter-in-law. "Things are getting a little too intense here for someone like me. Tenchi's becoming a fine man…and soon he'll be a fine father. I couldn't be prouder of him" With that good thought, the middle-aged Masaki picks up a paper sitting on his desk, looking through the listings for available and affordable apartments in Okayama near his work.

Downstairs, Seto feels her frustration grow at the lack of any response from practically everyone around her. 'This does not bode well for Lady Tsunami and myself,' she thinks. 'In her visions to me, she always showed that Tenchi was her chosen one, the one who would stand by her side for all eternity…could she have been mistaken?'

Seto looks away from everyone around her, anger burning in her eyes. 'No! That is impossible! Lady Tsunami is all powerful and all knowing…she could never, ever be mistaken about anything!' She suddenly stands up, looking as calm and composed as usual. "Forgive me, but I wish to excuse myself outside, I need some fresh air." Without another word, she makes her way out the front door and walks out on the extended porch over the lake, a confused expression working its way across her normally neutral face. "If everything I was told inside is true, then I am in the middle of some…extreme bout of sibling rivalry, one that none of us should be involved in. With three goddesses battling one another, I truly fear the outcome of this event, and what it might mean for the future prosperity of Jurai." She looks around at the peaceful setting around her, feeling her confusion and frustration grow with each passing moment. "Why did Lady Tsunami not tell me anything about this? I had assumed that I was her most loyal and trusted servant, but why would she keep something so important from me?"

Ryoko grumbles under her breath in frustration at the awkward silence that has filled the living room. 'I can't take this shit,' she think as the 'demon' floats off of her seat and makes her way to Washu's lab, entering inside and slamming the door shut behind her. "What the hell's going on here?" she shouts, feeling the need to destroy something…a lot of something. She looks around at her peaceful surroundings and sudden thought occurs to her. Ryoko plops down on the floating cushion in the middle of the room and hold out her hands, smiling widely as Washu's holo laptop appears in front of her. 'Good,' she thinks, 'I was wondering if Washu had programmed this thing to recognize me yet.'

She begins to type several commands down, using an intelligence not too many people know about. The room around her fades, changing into what appears to be a training dojo. A door to her right opens and several dozen robot drones appear, all charging up their energy weapons. Ryoko teleports above the drones, her red and black form fitting battle suit now replacing her regular yellow and blue striped dress. A red energy beam forms in her right hand and she squeezes it tightly, changing it into her energy sword. The daughter of Washu mutters, "Now lets have some fun!" before flying down into the sea of enemies.

Outside in the back, Tokimi eats her food with a troubled expression. 'I believe that Washu may become a more troublesome opponent than I had originally thought, especially now that she has remembered everything about her past. When she and my niece join forces with Seto, I do suspect their combined efforts will provide a great challenge.' A deceptively evil grin spreads across her lovely face. 'Well I know just the thing to take my dear sister down a couple of notches.' She looks up to the sky. "D3," she calls out loud.

The air in front of the goddess shimmers for a moment before the spectral figure of her most loyal servant appears, his long gray hair and beard moving on an unfelt wind. "Yes Lady Tokimi."

"How have all my projects progressed during my absence?"

"As perfect as planned my Lady," the demi-god replies.

Tokimi nods once a faint smile tracing her lips. "Excellent. Now onto more pressing matters. I know you have been keeping watch over Tenchi and myself here on earth, but I wish for you to keep a close eye on Ryoko and Seto. Notify me of any strange actions or behavior on their part."

"As you wish Lady Tokimi." The spectral being pauses for a moment. "Do you desire for me to watch over Lady Washu as well?"

"No," the goddess responds with a shake of her head, her evil smile returning, "I will take care of her personally. Washu has always thought herself as the superior sister, despite the fact that I was always the victor in all of our…competitions. Even now, she acts as if she is better than I can can boss me around and expect to be obedient. I will show her who is the greater sister and goddess. I will make her regret ever thinking she can take my Tenchi away from me."

D3 senses Lady Tokimi's old ferocious and dangerous personality start to surface, one she has not shown too much of since becoming pregnant and moving in with Lord Tenchi. "What do you plan to do with Lady Washu my Lady?"

Tokimi hold her hand up and clenches it tightly, her eyes glowing slightly with her unimaginable power. "I will break her."

To be continued…

Author's notes: So here it is all you loyal readers, part two of the 'Family Secrets' trilogy. Yes, I am sad to say that I too have been affected by Hollywood's sudden obsession with trilogies, but hopefully, unlike some certain trilogies, this chapter and the next one won't suck. I've been putting a lot of thought into where this story is going and such and from this point on, it will start to get darker. Will the darkness of this series be on par or even exceed that of the original 'Darkness' series? Only time will tell.

On with business: part three will delve deeper into parts of Washu and Tokimi's past, parts that when revealed may very well shake the core of the trio of one character in particular. We will also see Mihoshi return from her patrol, but she isn't alone. Who is this person she's brought along with her and what interest do they have with Tenchi and all those in the Masaki household? Keep patient and 'Family Affairs: Part Three' will answer all of these questions and more.

On a better note for all of you who keep track of my other fics, I am currently working on two of my Love Hina fics 'Different Promises' and 'Family Affairs' and once I post new chapters for those, I will get working more on my two Inu-Yasha series, which I've been neglecting for far too long. – lighthawkdemon

Questions or comments? E-mail me at: lighthawkdemon(at Y!)