Disclaimer: Don't own Tenchi Muyo or any of it's characters.

Lullaby Of Flowers

Chapter Seven: Sasami and Tsunami

Written By:

Samanda Hime-sama

Ayeka stood outside on the balcony on the second floor. She watched the stars that twinkled above her and picked out the star of her home world of Jurai. It was faint but visible to her lonely eyes.

She murmured. "If people were like stars..."

"Then all would be caught in an endless dance." A voice spoke behind her.

Ayeka turned and smiled. "Hello, Sasami. Or should I say, Tsunami?"

"For you, dearest sister, I remain Sasami." The goddess who knew mortality spoke. "For all others outside of this house, I am Tsunami."

"I see." Ayeka said after a pause.

Sasami gave a little shake of her head. "But that is not why I came out here. I came to ask if you were all right."

Ayeka looked into her sister's eyes. "As much as can be expected. I am still uneasy about the return of my memories. Why bother when there is nothing but sadness?"

"There are sad memories contained there." The goddess agreed. "But more than that lies buried in your mind if you would simply remember. Happiness, joy, anger and confusion are all contained here in this house."

Ayeka smiled a little. "I wish I had one happy memory returned to me."

"Can I tell you one of mine?" Sasami asked her older sister.

Ayeka took her sister's hand. "I would enjoy that."

"I was seventeen." Sasami began. "You suddenly just snapped out of your withdrawal and asked if I wanted to make a visit home. I was so happy that you were showing an interest in something so I agreed. It was two days before my eighteenth birthday when we took off in Ryo-ohki. We landed on a barren planet with a breathable atmosphere the night of before my birthday."

Sasami smiled. "We celebrated with cake and ice cream. I had so much fun that night but eventually I fell asleep. I woke sometime in the night, feeling strange. What was left of the bonding process between Tsunami and I ended that night."

Ayeka looked at her quizzically. "That is happy how?"

"I'm not done." Sasami laughed. "As I lay there, dazed and trying to make sense of all the new tugs on my senses, I found myself laying in your lap with you hovering over me protectively. Suddenly I wasn't just me anymore but I was also Tsunami, goddess of Jurai. It took some getting used to! But through it all, you were there, Ayeka."

Ayeka felt a little better. "And that made you happy?"

"You planned it all." Sasami told her. "Right down to the barren planet just in case the process caused harm to anything around me. You selflessly put your own life on the line when you stayed with me. I was happy because you cared so much."

Ayeka hugged her. "Now I see. Thank you, Sasami."

Ayeka excused herself and went to her room to sleep. Tsunami stayed where she was and looked up to the beautiful stars that she herself had part in creating. Her hands flexed on the railing then fell away.

Ayeka looked down at a picture of Sasami. The conversation she had with her sister tugged at her mind. And then she could remember.

Ayeka put a cold cloth on Sasami's forehead. She was worried about her. Since Sasami had completed the bond with Tsunami last night, she had been weaker, almost like she was sick.

"How do you feel?" Ayeka asked her.

Sasami tried to smile. "A little better. I seem to be getting used to the noise now."

Ayeka frowned a little in puzzlement but let it go. Only later would she realize that Sasami had been talking about Tsunami's powers. Being empathic to your people could not be easy, especially when millions of voices invaded your head at every moment

They left the planet after Sasami had gotten control over her new powers. The worst of it was the voices, she said. When they had faded into a loud kind of background noise, Sasami had said she was ready to go back.

"No one can keep secrets from a goddess, Sasami." Ayeka had smiled at her. "Just remember that."

Sasami giggled. "But I'll try to not overhear anything, sister. Some things should be left unheard."

"True." Ayeka nodded at her sister's wisdom.

Tsunami was torn inside. It was so hard to stick to her policy of not interfering too much, especially when it applied to the ones she loved most. She could do nothing but watch Ayeka struggle and occasionally nudge her into remembering something.

Tsunami sighed. She knew the answer to the question that plagued the rest of the household in regards to Ayeka. Should she remember or should they resign themselves to being forgotten?

Forgetting wasn't the answer. Experiences, memories, discoveries and people were simply gone. Forgetting everything made you lose too much in the way of your own self.

That is why Ayeka had to remember. Because even bitter memories teach us memories of life. And those memories build our experiences and shapes us. A lifetime of this makes us into new people.

For a moment only Sasami remained under the stars. "Find your way back, sister. We need you. And all of us miss you."