**Please note: There is a Japanese funeral included in this chapter, it has been followed almost to the letter. Just to for warn you.**
Chapter 10
The sky was darkening to deep purples and blues night time quickly approaching. The forest was quiet, to quiet for most to be comfortable. But not for the dark haired young man who was seated silently on a rock off the beaten path up the mountain. His eyes were closed and his breathing slow, he had a problem, several actually but for now he was concentration on one. The sudden and strange bursts of power he seemed to be having, never in his life had he phased or flown. It was terrifying to him, what made it worse was he had no real control or whenever it happened.
His grandfather had trained and taught him how to do lots of things and how to deal with unexpected situations, which was why he was able to adapt rather easily with all the girls when they first showed up. Still this influx of powers he was experiencing was more than he could deal with. Add that to his worries about aging, the assassinations and worse of all that time of month. Nothing was more dangerous than a girlfriend that could level planets, two galaxy police officers and the universes greatest scientist all going through it at the same time.
His side gave him a sharp pain as a reminder and he groaned. He couldn't wait until the medical team from Jurai showed up. He stood silently and moved off from his secluded spot in the forest, the only spot that he alone knew about. He should bring his Ryoko here some time.
"I'm fat." Tenchi blinked and looked at his lovely girlfriend. She was standing there in her underwear, looking at herself closely in the mirror. Turning this way and that way, Tenchi enjoyed the show he was getting but he dared not let on that he did right now. She turned and looked at him look worried and nervous. "Ten-chan do I look sexy?"
Tenchi could barely keep the surprise off his face. "Of course you do."
She bit her lower lip and looked at him. "No you don't...you think I'm fat and ugly..." Her mood shifted from nervous and worried to anger. "How dare you say I'm fat and ugly!"
Tenchi gulped and stood quickly from his spot on the floor where he had been studying both her and his school work. "I never said that."
"No but you were thinking it."
"Ryo-chan I couldn't think that if I tried."
"Liar!" She crossed her arms and glared at him accusingly. Tenchi being lost and knowing he would probably not be winning this argument, did a last ditch effort. "Honey, love of my life…Listen to me. Your gorgeous, sexy, wonderful, perfect, not one flaw. I Love you."
Ryoko seemed to be mollified for the moment and Tenchi moving before another argument could break out moved in kissed her lovingly and then made the excuse he needed something to eat left the room.
Tenchi made his way to the stairs silently, so as not to alert the rest of the women in the house. The last thing he needed was a repeat of what happened in his room, especially since this would be multiplied at least three times. He approached the kitchen quietly, all his years of highly trained senses working over time and heightened even more with his power. He knew by some sense he had developed where each girl was right now.
This was the part of the girls living here that he was not fond of. True he didn't experience this every month, only once every six months. Advanced Biology, as taught by Washu, let him understand that it built up in the girls for six months. He had experienced this on a few occasions and after that he had learned to apply the old adage of 'he who runs away lives to fight another day.' to the situation. Never let them corner you, that was the key, but until now he had never had to share a room with one of them.
With sandwich in hand he retreated once more to his room, he slipped in the room and found Ryoko fast asleep in their bed and breathing a little easier ate his sandwich before sliding in next to her. He drifted off to sleep slowly absently moving close to her.
***
Nobuyuki stretched and sighed the hustle and bustle of Tokyo rather soothing really and best of all, he unlike Tenchi and Katsuhito, didn't have to deal with a bunch of girls going through they're time of month. He packed up his supplies quietly sort of humming a soft tune, one his wife had always enjoyed. He didn't really know the name of the song he just knew the tune, his footsteps echoed the semi empty corridors of his office building, the janitors and security being the only ones left. Trying to become a partner at his architecture firm he worked over time a lot, more than when he wasn't, a glance at his watch told him it was almost eleven now.
He walked to the stairs and elevators, and paused looking back and forth between them for a moment, he should take the stairs they kept him in good shape, he didn't exercise really except when he walked them. But he should get back to his apartment quickly so he could sit down and finish his latest letter to his wife. He had written her a letter for every day that she was gone, it was painful and not one of them didn't have a tear stain on it. They were bundled and tucked away in the corner of his closet in his apartment. He sighed and took the elevator.
He leaned against the back wall of the elevator, he had a bad case of Claustrophobia. He closed his eyes and took deep calming breathes as the elevator gave a little jerk and then started moving. He had developed it as a young child, he had been trapped in an old refrigerator for nearly five hours. That was a long time ago and he had gotten over it to an extend but every now and then it came back in force and his over stress only made it worse.
The elevator gave a sudden jerk and Nobuyuki's heart pounded madly. The doors had barely dinged and opened before he was rushing out and into the hallway, his breathing rapid and his heart still beating fast. He stumbled out into the parking lot, calming down as he headed for his small car.
He rubbed his chest lightly, his face contorting in pain from the discomfort there, it felt like the pain from his chest was spreading down his arm from his shoulder. His breathing became labored and short, he stumbled getting dizzy.
His mind grew hazy, he couldn't seem to think straight. His knees buckled and he fell to the ground, the footsteps were far away sounding and in the minutes before he closed his eyes he realized three things, he had a heart attack, he loved his son, and he was finally going to be with his wife. Then once he closed his eyes, he thought of nothing else but the white light and his wife's soft loving voice calling him towards it
***.
The ship was quiet and still. It was a huge ship with the escorts of Jurai warships, they dwarfed it as well but it was by far more important. Unlike the ship that had brought Aekea home, which had taken it's time at her orders, or the two ships that had carried the assassin and Ukyo which were slow anyway, these ships were traveling at top speed on a direct line to earth. They did not stop at the check points and the galaxy police kept all traffic and their own ships well away from their course.
All this did little to soothe the nerves of the man sitting in his small cabin dressed in the stately blue and white robes of the Holy Council. He was merely thinking sipping at his wine in the crystal glass. He was unsure why he was told to be on this trip by Meikan, what need was there for one of the Jurai Holy Council ministers to be involved in the elimination of Prince Tenchi's future wife? Perhaps there was another plot in motion that he knew nothing of.
Sighing he sipped his wine and refilled his glass. Nothing made any sense, all he knew was that he would have to stick with the story, he was going to represent the Emperor and the council to the family on the resort planet. Since he would be spending time on this planet, he had used his clearance and accessed all the information available on it.
He rose and leaving his glass half full moved across cabin and prepared for bed. Nothing to do but sleep, they would be there in shortly. That was the nice thing of traveling this quickly, they did not have to deal with long periods of time or go into suspended sleep. He was not looking forward to dealing with non-Juraian standard time. He slid into bed and closed his eyes drifting off to sleep.
As the council member was drifting off to sleep, another was sitting up, busy with important paper work. Taliesin was writing on the computer pad, moving the computer pen in quick movements as he wrote.
'After Studying the reports of Miss Washu, it seems that Princess Sasami's coma is self induced. As to how this was accomplished is a mystery, but we have several options left open to us…not the least of which is to use a compound of stimulants.'
He paused momentarily and tapped the pen on the table and scrolled through the on screen copy of Washu's file. She was quite the remarkable woman, she knew more about Juraian physiology than anyone else he had ever met. That included most Juraian doctors, which was a disappointment.
Sighing he went back to writing, it was going to be a long night, to much to do. The appointment of that child was a foolish act really, but he did get the job done, he was just more nervous than most. Setting the pen down he stood and stretched, he looked around and left his cabin, he had an inspection to do of the equipment.
***
Washu was the one that answered the phone. The others had been to deeply asleep a combination of an experiment of Washu's to help try and curb their situation and the sake they had consumed. Which explained why Washu was left in her light slumber. Washu had reverted to her child form to avoid the situation. She had also avoided the sake they had passed around because she was locked up in her lab. She had left her lab to check on the others when the phone had begun to ring.
It was in a state of disbelief that she had made her way up the stairs, past the room containing the young princess and Ukyo and knocked on Tenchi and Ryoko's door. It was fifteen minutes, although to her it seemed longer, before Tenchi made a mumble. It was another five before she heard his muffled footsteps and then the door slid open and he looked down at her. Tenchi was still having some problems adjusting to Washu being a child again, although not as badly as Ukyo was. He was almost barricaded in his room having never dealt with girls during this time of month.
The room was still dark, and Ryoko was on her side still in bed sleeping soundly, Washu could hear her soft snores from here. The little scientist looked up at the Masaki male and her eyes were both distant and shining with unshed tears. Tenchi frowned, his sleep addled brain clearing enough for him to realize she was upset. Unexpectedly she pulled him to her and hugged him. Neither said a word, one partly because Tenchi was confused and Two because Washu didn't want to.
"Washu-chan…what's wrong?"
A few minutes of silence and she told him, ready for the break down that was going to come. "Tenchi…your father's dead."
Dead silence, she watched Tenchi his face going blank. She continued "It was a heart attack…"
Tenchi looked at her no emotions, no nothing just blankness and then he spoke. "I should tell grandfather." He stepped around her and started down the hallway in the dead of night. Washu blinked, that was not what she had been expecting. Tenchi was still confusing, even after all the time she had spent studying him. Washu watched the top of his head disappear down the stairs and then turning entered his room to tell her daughter.
Tenchi's mind was not as empty as the blank look on his face would lead one to believe, actually his mind was in turmoil. His father dead, he had just visited barely a week ago. He had come by to check on Sasami, to relax a little and also to visit with his son and try his best to help him with his problem.
Now he was dead. A heart attack.
Tenchi couldn't believe it and yet he could. He had left the house, not disturbing anybody, and headed off into the forest avoiding the stairs to the shrine. He was not really thinking then, he was just moving. If he kept moving he wouldn't feel so bad. For one wild moment he had wondered if Washu could bring him back, or maybe Tsunami…but then he realized that no, they probably couldn't or wouldn't. His father was dead.
He was moving rather mechanically, avoiding trees and roots and stones absently making his way up the mountain. It wasn't that hard really, he passed the lake with Funaho without so much as a glance. His father was dead.
That was the only real thought in his head, it just kept repeating over and over again. He knew that by the time he returned home the other girls would know, Ryoko would know. She would try to find him. All of this came to him without him really thinking about it. When he finally emerged at the far end of the shrines stone paved yard it was well past three in the morning.
He moved silently across the stones towards the office door, knowing that his grandfather would be asleep in the room behind it. He stepped up to the door and without knocking slid it open and entered. The office was dark and quiet, his grandfather obviously in bed already. He moved past the desk, the faint smell of saukya still in the air. He no sooner entered his grandfathers rooms than he stopped, seeing his grandfather already up and dressed in the traditional priests robes.
The old man looked at him as if considering him, Tenchi waited for his grandfather to say something. When he didn't Tenchi spoke. "Nobuyuki…"
His grandfather finished the sentence for him. "Is dead."
Tenchi nodded numbly and didn't move, he was to tired and drained from emotions to do anything but stand there. Katsuhito said or did nothing as well, his reasons a secret like everything he did. Tenchi his mind still only really processing that his father was dead spoke slowly a hint of anger in his voice.
"My fathers dead and all you can do is stand there?"
The old priest shrugged. "What is there to be done. He is dead."
Tenchi's eyes narrowed slightly, his anger starting to build. "That's all there is to it? He's dead?"
Katsuhito shrugged once more obviously ignoring the anger that was lacing his grandsons voice. "Death is a part of the natural order of things."
"Death is, yes but so is grieving, so is being human!" Tenchi shouted getting more agitated and angry. How could his grandfather be so cold, so uncaring? This was his son in law and he was not the least bit upset. Tenchi's hand absently made a fist, his anger beginning to cloud his judgment.
"Tenchi, if one allows anger and grief to take control, then one looses themselves." The old priest was standing still as a statue, either not noticing or not caring that his grandson was angry with him.
Tenchi moved quickly, not answering. He covered the small distance between his elder and himself with only two quick steps. His fist swung out in an arc but hit nothing. He turned seeing his grandfather standing at the door of the room. Tenchi charged once more, guided by his anger and threw a flurry of punches and kicks that most would not be able to block.
Yet with a calm ease Katsuhito ducked, bobbed and blocked all of them without so much as really moving from his spot in the doorway. This did not dissuade his grandson who only redoubled his efforts getting more infuriated with each passing second.
"Tenchi, calm yourself."
The words fell on deaf ears, Tenchi was concentrating on hitting his grandfather, his hands and feet slowly beginning to become a blur. All his years of training, being used. His body responding to his urges.
Some how during the onslaught they had moved out of the door way and into the office. Still Tenchi would not pause in his attacks and neither could he land a single blow. Then suddenly his grandfather caught a hand and shifting his weight threw him through the door out into the court yard.
Tenchi landed with a loud oomph noise and winced shooting pains racing up from his injured ribs. He rose slowly and stood his eyes darting around for his grandfather, slipping into a classic stance of hand to hand fighting. While not being fully trained in this style of fighting he was good enough to be confident in his abilities.
"Tenchi, how does attacking me help your father?" was his grandfathers only calm response.
Tenchi didn't respond to the voice instead focusing all his senses on finding his grandfather. His anger driving him to attack was not enough to make him forget all that he had learned. He spun throwing a kick hitting only air, when his foot landed he shifted his eyes trying to locate his grandfathers location.
"Tenchi, now is not the time to lash out."
The young boy froze his grandfather right behind him. He didn't dare move or turn he knew better, instead he listened to his grandfathers words.
"You father is dead, this is not helping him."
"You don't understand…you never understand. Not when my mother died, not now when my father died." Tenchi's voice was shaking slightly sounding thick with emotion. "You never understand…" Tenchi without realizing it, shifted his weight driving his elbow towards his grandfathers side. He felt air but extended his arm and snagged his grandfathers robe. He pulled him back as he brought his other hand around to grab his grandfathers head, pulling him over as his knee drove upwards towards the old mans chest.
The sudden feeling of hands on his knee holding it in place surprised him but not as much as when he found himself on his back his nose and mouth bleeding. Propping himself up on his elbows he saw his grandfather standing there as calmly as ever, but with a deep frown on his face.
"Foolish boy, I understand all to well. You disgrace yourself, your father and your mother. This course of action is pointless and self serving."
Tenchi slowly got to his knees about to stand, his grandfathers words hurting him more than any blow could.
"No, stay down boy. You have no honor, so you have no right to stand. Crawl away, return home to your woman and tell her that she has a boy not a man, a boy with no honor who disgraces his family the night of his fathers death."
Tenchi bit his lip and stood defying his grandfather. He made no move to attack though, he merely looked at his grandfather. His blood drying but still it was on his clothes, the wind blew ruffling his clothes and hair. He straightened slightly, his shoulders going back his eyes hard and focused. He spoke his voice emotionless.
"I am sorry grandfather for trying to strike you. But you are wrong, I do have honor. I will not crawl from an old man that would sit on his mountain while his family grieves. I will leave, I will walk back to my woman, as I am."
His grandfather remained silent as his grandson started forward and then passed him without so much as a glance, he remained motionless as his grandson stopped at the top of the stairs and spoke once more, his back still to his grandfather.
"To have honor is to care about others. I may have disgraced my family tonight but I refuse to continue to do so. Therefore I still have honor. You care for no one, so you have no honor, and you disgrace your family continuously."
Tenchi stood there a moment longer and then started down the weather worn ancient steps down the mountain back to his family.
***
Ryoko was restless, she cleaned the living room a first for her it was spotless even more so than it would normally be. Ryoko was mumbling and grumbling as she re-cleaned a spot she had just cleaned not three minutes ago. She was worried about Tenchi...it was almost enough to cause her already roller coaster emotions to get out of control.
She stopped in the middle of her cleaning and with cackling orange energy vaporized the duster in her hand cursing Washu for making her like this. That was when she heard the door to the house close. Tenchi was back. She spun hoping he was alright, there was no telling how he would react. Tenchi entered the living room and just stood in the door looking at her, his face and shirt bloody, Ryoko blinked and took a step forward but Tenchi merely looked at her and frowned.
"I'm going back to bed…"
Ryoko paused studying him confused and surprised, she had thought he would want a hug or something. "Tenchi…"
"Ryoko, please I just want to go back to bed."
She frowned and started forward worried about him, he turned his back to her and started towards the stairs. Ryoko followed trying to catch up with him. She didn't catch up with him until he was in bed not bothering to change clothes, he had just laid down pulled the covers up on him and buried his face into the pillow. His face was calm as if he was already asleep, but Ryoko knew better she could hear his heart beating a mile a minute. She stood there watching him, she finally phased back into her sleeping clothes and made her way to the bed and climbed in behind him.
She laid there for a moment getting frustrated and slightly angry with Tenchi for ignoring her, but she kept reminding herself he had just lost his father. This was like with his mother Kiyone all over again when she died, he had come back to her but had ignored her.
Finally she let out a sigh and spoke softly knowing he was still awake. "Ten-chan…I'm here for you.."
Tenchi laid there not reacting for several long minutes, making Ryoko think that he was actually ignoring her like she didn't really matter. Then he spoke his voice low. "But for how long?"
Ryoko rolled over and stared at him as he remained on her side. "Forever"
Tenchi rolled over and looked up at her and frowned. "Forever is longer than you think."
Ryoko started to say something when Tenchi continued in a quiet voice looking at her. "There was once a samurai turn Ronin name Ha Tengoku, he wandered the land looking for the meaning of forever. He looked far and wide, visited with priests and wise men, consorted with oni of all matters, and still he did not find the meaning of forever. He spent his whole life looking but never found out..."
Ryoko waited silently confused about the story about what all this meant but Tenchi was apparently not going to continue the story. "Ha Tengoku was foolish, forever is forever it has no end like us."
Tenchi shook his head and sighed. "Ha Tengoku died, for him there was no forever, as it is for me."
Ryoko blinked confused more than ever now. What on earth did he mean? He rolled over again and spoke softly to her.
"Ryoko, I love you...goodnight."
She started to say something but just like that he was asleep, no pretending this time around. Leaving his girlfriend feeling angry, frustrated and confused what did Ha and Tenchi have in common? Who could she ask? Katsuhito would know for sure, she would ask him tomorrow. She laid down pressing herself against him slipping an arm around his waist one of his hands taken hers in his sleep and holding it as she drifted off to sleep.
Dreaming about her and Tenchi together forever.
***
Azusa sat on his throne, a frown marring his face. He had succeeded in getting his daughter Aekea to return home, and now, now she wished to go back. Never mind that her mother and her betrothed was going with her, she was going back to see her sister, but part of him also knew she was going back to see him. That boy, he had caused Azusa more problems that the Star Empire and the Shina Empire combined.
He slumped down into the throne and rested his chin on his fist staring grumpily forward into nothing. Added to his concerns was the information from Funaho's network that the Council was seeking to jeopardize the Royal family. They didn't know how, but he did know that it was going to be bad. He needed to speak with the council, needed to affix his signature to a few new laws and decrees and orders.
He was only thankful that the assassination attempts had ceased, if it was only temporary. He snapped out of his thoughts as the door opened and a knight came striding into the room. Azusa could feel the confidence radiating out from him from here. The emperor sat up his eyes following the knights progress forward. The knight stopped and kneeled in one smooth motion speaking calmly. ""My emperor, I am Knight Togoa sworn to the house of Kamiki, one of the personal knights of Chijiro's father Lord Toga.""
Azusa waved his hand and nodded. The knight rose and produced a small envelope and moved forward he knelt again holding the letter out for the emperor. Once taken, the knight rose and waited patiently as the Emperor read the letter.
Azusa frowned and folded the letter and shook his head. ""Tell him my answer is no.""
There was a moment of silence as the knight started to reason with him when he fell to his knees, and slumped forward his eyes rolling up into his head. The five knights lining the walls around the throne rushed forward and surrounded him. They were shouting and yelling, the emperor rose and looked around anxiously trying to find the attacker.
The silence was broken by the footsteps, all eyes focused on the direction it came from. And then a figure emerged they stood tall and broad, his face and body covered in a dull green. His heritage obvious as that of a chamel, a species that had no love of Juraians and also known for being able to camouflage themselves at will. It didn't speak it's eyes merely narrowed into slits and using it's tail hit the lock mechanism sealing the room.
Then the creature took a step forward and the knights prepared for a fight. The emperor gripped the handle of his sword that rested against the side of his throne when three more of the creatures appeared. Two perched on the huge marble columns looking at them, the third standing behind the first creature. With a terrible hiss they charged forward, the knights with a scream pulled their energy weapons and rushed forward to the battle.
Funaho, queen of Jurai strode purposely down the hall, her personal knights hurrying to keep up with her. Her lovely face marred by a frown, it did not suit her features. A messenger had arrived out of breath only moments before as she had been seeing about the arrangements for the trip and hastily told her that something was wrong in the throne room.
She broke into a run seeing a mass of knights outside the throne room, the parted as she pushed her way through. She began shouting orders, while the highest ranked knight present told her everything he knew. She turned staring at the door, even through the massive doors, they could hear the battle. Then suddenly as Funaho was ordering the knights to prepare to break the door down all went quiet.
Funaho tensed, as did the knights all their weapons drawn and ready. Then slowly the locking mechanism unsealed the room. There was a slight pause and then the door creaked open, first to appear was two knights looking ripped and shredded, there energy weapons disengaged yet held tightly at their sides. Next through the door was the emperor, his hair disheveled and wild, his face scared and dark, his stately clothes ripped and torn.
The gathered knights knelt while Funaho's, at the queens orders, started forward to tend to him. Another two knights hobbled out of the room behind him just as he spoke causing all, including his wife to pause. ""I WILL NOT BE KILLED IN MY OWN THRONE ROOM."" He stood at his full height the pain he had to feel not even showing on his face. He looked around at the kneeling knights. He shouted again his voice reverberating down the hallways. ""DO YOU HEAR ME? YOU VILE FILTH SHALL NOT KILL ME IN MY THRONE ROOM AND ANY WHO DARE SHALL SUFFER MY WRATH!" "
The emperors battle lust lit eyes locked on his wife and they shared a silent conversation, it was a short one though cause he tore his gaze from her and took a painful step forward. The gathered knights of Funaho moved forward to help him but he shrugged them off taking a breath, speaking again in a normal voice. ""I Will tend to myself, see to my knights, all of them.""
They stood there uncertain until he turned his gaze to them and shouted. ""DO IT NOW OR I WILL HAVE YOUR HEADS!""
The knights gave short curt bows and did as he commanded. Funaho watched her husband as he made his way down the hallway, to proud a man to accept help of any kind. She turned her attention to the knights slowly rising staring at the open dark throne room. She immediately set about giving them orders, she was in her element.
That done and knowing full well that her knights were taking care of Azusa remaining knights, she turned and free from any escorts hurried after her husband worry etched in every line of her face.
***
Misaki sat nervously playing with a white wash cloth, her husband was situated on the bed in her quarters. The Royal nurses had arrived within minutes of her rather frantic call and were even now tending to his wounds. He suffered their ministrations, at least that was what he always said, for her.
She looked up as the door to her quarters hissed open and Funaho came in her face looking composed but Misaki
could tell by looking at her eyes that she was worried about their husband as she was. She rose and embraced Funaho in a tight bone crushing hug. Funaho wordlessly returned the hug eyes closed, when she spoke her voice was soft and low. "How is he?"
"H-he'll be fine..."
Funaho nodded and shushed her fellow queen wishing her to remain calm, she knew that it was a strain on her sister-queen to keep her emotions in check. She was just thankful that Aekea was out with Chijiro and knew nothing about this, if she were present she would only make it that much harder on Misaki to remain in control. She only hopped that the people behind the assassination attempts didn't also decide to attack Aekea at the same time.
The door to Misaki's bedroom opened and out came the staff, the nurses leaving without a word. The doctor stopping, waiting for the two queens to pay attention to her. When she saw Funaho moving her hand for her to go ahead.
"He suffered a few bruises, some cuts, his power healed some of the worse wounds. He should avoid as much stress as possible. Otherwise he'll aggregate some of his wounds. But he will be fine in a few days." She paused taking a heavy breath and left the room as Funaho motioned for her to leave.
The two queens separated slowly and Funaho an arm wrapped around Masaki's shoulders lead her into the bedroom where their husband was.
***
"Ah, Miss Kuramitsu how are we feeling today?"
The disheveled blonde looked up a the man, he wore glasses carried a notepad and was dressed in casual business attire. She blinked her eyes and rose from her spot on the floor and sat on the only other chair in the room opposite of the man.
Silence descended as he scribbled something on his notepad and then looked back up at her. "How are we feeling?"
She chirped back a happy reply. "Oh, I'm feeling fine." She blinked her blue eyes and smiled looking around pleasantly. "Has my grandfather said when I can go back on duty?"
The man pursed his lips and nodded. "Yes...just as soon as you've answered a few questions."
The blonde nodded and started looking about the room like a small curious child.
"First, do you know what today is?"
"Umm.....Friday?" She brightened and looked at the man. "Oh...it's the weekend...."
He shifted slightly in his seated. "Yes, well, I meant the date."
She lifted her finger to her mouth and got a thoughtful look on her face. "Umm...oh! It's Startica on Jurai!" She seemed to bounce in her seat at the realization. A large smile on her face.
The man nodded and scribbled something on the notepad "Very good, umm...do you remember your last case?"
She nodded, going suddenly serious. "Yes, it was case number 00214. I tracked and arrested several members of a small pirate guild."
He nodded slightly and scribbled again looking up at her. "I see, what about after that case?"
Her eyes seemed to go out of focus, there was a pregnant pause before she answered. "I remember my grandfather telling me that I should go on vacation, and then I was brought here under his urgings. I understand I got a promotion..."
The man nodded and leaned forward looking at her closely. "Do you know how long you've been here?"
"About four months...it's strange, because while regulations insist that all Galaxy police personal must take a mandatory vacation, and the occasional psychological review, I've been on vacation for nearly twice the allotted time."
The man nodded and rose slipping the pen into his front breast pocket and answered her. "Thank you Miss Kuramitsu." he started for the door but stopped when she called out. "Wait, when can I return to duty?"
He paused and looked back at her and seemed to consider something before answering. "One last question...what do the names Misao and Kin?"
Mihoshi blinked and bowed her head, the man nodded and frowned continuing out of the room. The door closed and the only sound in the room was Mihoshi's heavy breathing...Against her will her mind she was causing her to remember something. An open doorway with a man standing in it. He said something, and she sobbed, He remained impassive looking at her with two slate gray eyes, she collapsed to her knees crying beginning to plead with him. She reached out towards him but he turned and left without so much as a backwards glance, closing the door behind him. Mihoshi continued to sob uncontrollably; her entire world shattered.
back in the room fresh tears started down her cheeks.
Mihoshi woke up, finding herself sleeping on the couch. She sat up and looked around yawning, she rubbed at her eyes and felt the tears. She wiped them away, not sure how or why she had been crying. She rose quietly and stepped over an unconscious Kiyone, headed upstairs. She would go check on Sasami, and maybe she'd get to see Ukyo.
Just thinking about his handsome face and kind nature caused her heart to beat faster, the experiment of Washu seemed to be working extremely well with Mihoshi. She was very close to normal, something that in the two weeks since Nobuyuki's death was a relief to Tenchi.
She opened the door and stepped into the room, bathed in a blue light. She walked forward and looked at the face of Sasami, the little princess looked so pale frail. She silently prayed for the young princess, and then turned looking at Ukyo, he was watching her from his spot on the floor against the wall. Mihoshi without thinking moved around the bed and lowered herself so that she was sitting next to him, they sat there in silence and then she leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder with a yawn and drifted off to sleep.
The knight was surprised and confused, he didn't move for several long minutes before moving as Mihoshi shifted in her sleep slipping down, she would be sleeping on the ground if he didn't do something so he lifted his arm and put it around her shoulder. She smiled in her sleep and twisted her arm slinging across his waist her head coming to rest on the side of his chest.
He couldn't help but smile absently as he without thinking rubbed her shoulder lightly, he wondered about Lord Tenchi, he hadn't seen him since he had come in with Ryoko and told Sasami about his fathers death, even if she couldn't hear him.
***
Tenchi walked down the stairs and to the family alter. He was dressed completely in black, he knelt quietly. He looked at the picture of his father surrounded with chrysanthemums, and black ribbons diagonally across the top corners. He clapped his hands and offered up a silent prayer, he wanted nothing more than to stay home, but it was time for the funeral.
He rose quietly as Ryoko joined him, she stood quietly beside him, she was dressed in a black dress, it was not a seductive dress or anything, it was merely a regualr black dress. She told Tenchi when he explained about what they would have to do that she would feel naked without her ring, which was not pearl and thus not allowed to be worn.
For the first week, after making the calls, receiving the various family and dealing with traditions. The second, which was hard to bear, was so that Tenchi and family waited for Aekea to call her condolences. After that final call, Tenchi had finally decided it was time for the funeral to proceed.
Ryoko saw something in Tenchi that was only usually seen when he was in battle. He was decisive, he had assumed the role of man of the house. He had told her about his fight with his grandfather, so she knew why all the decisions had been left up to Tenchi.
They walked out of the house and joined the rest of the family, all of whom were dressed in black. They loaded into the van, with Tenchi in the drivers seat and Ryoko in passagner seat next to him. It took them about fourty minutes to reach the crematorium, once inside all them followed Tenchi's lead. He had briefly told them about what to do. Tenchi with Ryoko in tow had gone to view him one last time, which was a mild breaking of tradition but he had felt he needed to do that. He had been dressed in a white kimono right side folded over left as the opposite of what is normal in daily life.
When they rejoined their family, they took the first meal as they cremated his fathers body. They were of course joined by some of his mother Kiyone's family and some of Nobuyuki's as well, Katsuhito had even come although he came separate from Tenchi and the rest of the family.
Tenchi took a deep breath, the last part of the tradition, the one where the relatives pick the bones out of the ash and pass them from person to person with chopsticks, was the hardest part for him. It brought back very sad and depressing memories of his mothers funeral.
Ryoko did the best she could, but even she hadn't a clue that Tenchi was thinking about his mother, as well as his father.
He could still remember the day clearly, he quickly cleared his head of it. He didn't need to remember that, especially right now. He glanced at his grandfather and frowned briefly. The elder Masaki male looked as impassive as ever as he participated in the ritual. He forced what anger he felt towards his grandfather away for now, this was his fathers funeral and he would not dishonor him again.
Washu had been selected to receive the customary monetary donation, because she was the most level headed and the best with numbers. Most of the envelopes from the family held 10,000, some held a lot more not that it really mattered to Tenchi. They had received a envelope from Yuzukaa in the mail with 5,000 yen enclosed in it a few days before, and then they had received another from Daijiro and Ryoe for 5,000 each. Tenchi knew that the only reason they had not come to the funeral ceremony was because they had to attend classes, so he was not bothered by the untraditional way they had got the money to him.
It was a quiet family that returned to the house, Tenchi surround by his family placed the Urn with his fathers ashes on the alter in front of his picture and lit the first osenko stick, followed by Katsuhito, Ryoko, Washu, Sasami, Mihoshi, Kiyone and then Ukyo. They had just enough time to prepare for the final meal, which would have lots of food and sake, as was the tradition.
Tenchi had developed a habit to go with the normal routine of kissing Ryoko whispering her loved her and going to sleep, the habit was to say 'No matter what tomorrow brings Ryoko, we'll be together, so it won't matter.'
Ryoko, saw that Tenchi was avoiding dealing with his father's items. They had went in and cleared out his apartment and loaded everything into his room at the house, but since then he hadn't done a thing with any of the items. She debated about if she should do it for him or not. She left it for now, deciding that she'd talk with him about it and that if he still didn't do anything after they buried his father then she would do it for him.
Ryoko was surprised at how reasonable she was becoming, she was actually starting to think things out. Maybe it was because Tenchi was with her, he seemed to act as her anchor, as something to keep her grounded. Mentally shrugging she snuggled against him and closed her eyes, smiling despite her self happy to be in the arms of her love.
Over the next three weeks many visitors came, burned a stick and talked with Tenchi and Katsuhito. Some visited with Ryoko, but only if she was Tenchi when they arrived. The one thing Tenchi never told anyone, not even Ryoko was that he felt like he had disappointed his father because after spending his whole life raising and waiting for Tenchi to become a man, he had been denied the right to see his son married.
Tenchi stood alone in the hallway, a rarity lately, since Ryoko was always with him. He was grateful for that, she had supplied him with love, and source of strength that if she hadn't have he never would have been able to handle things as well as he did.
It was also a blessing because the others, were finally back to normal, well a semi-balance of normal. That was another thing that made things easier. But right now all that was the furthest thing from Tenchi's mind, what was though was what behind the door in front of him in the hallway.
He was putting it off, but he knew that he couldn't do that for much longer. He would have preferred Ryoko to be with him, but he felt that this was something he had to do on his own. Taking a deep breath he slid the door open and entered his fathers room. Boxes were stacked up with clothes, magazines, and most importantly letters.
Tenchi sighed and started with the closets box. In little over four hours, he had managed to go through most of the boxes. He didn't know what to do with the clothes, except put them out in the storage shed, the magazines would of course make a trip to the garbage. The letters, pictures and other pictures were placed in a strong box and were going to be kept in the closet of his room.
Tenchi moved a stack of older 'cooking' magazines and found a small photo packet underneath. Curious he picked it up and flipped through it, at first it was just regular pictures of his mother in various places and then Tenchi found the first of many pictures of his mother posing, much like Ryoko did for Tenchi when she insisted on making some pictures for their private collection.
Tenchi snapped the packet closed and gulped, blinking. He wasn't sure what to do, he had found his fathers private pictures of his mother, he wasn't sure what to do with it. He sighed and added them to the other pictures and papers to be locked up and placed in his closet.
He folded the box shut, and sighed hoping that there would be enough room in the shed for the boxes. He carried the box out and stacked it on the shelf, this action was repeated several times, until finally all of his fathers clothes were put away in the storage shed.
Tenchi wiped his forehead and grabbed the strong box containing everything else, he grunted it was heavier than he had thought it would be. He lugged it out of the room and into his where he placed it in the far corner of his closet. Sighing he looked around put at hand to the small of his back and shook his head.
He turned hear Ryoko enter the room, she looked at his face and crossed the room and embraced him. He returned the embrace happy to rest his head on her shoulder. They stood there just hugging, until finally they need to let go.
"Love," The cyan haired women looked at the young man and listened as he continued. "Thank you…if you hadn't been here for me I don't think I would have been able to handle this."
She shook her head and stepped close kissing his cheek lightly, then rested her cheek on his shoulder. "I will always be here for you."
He nodded and sighed looking at the clock on the wall. "Tomorrow is going to be hard love."
She nodded slightly and kept her head on his shoulder, "I know but like you say 'No matter what tomorrow brings, we'll be together, so it won't matter.'"
"Since when do you listen to me?" Tenchi asked sounding like a ghost of himself.
Ryoko smiled and started to lead him towards the bed. "Since I love you, and you say that every night."
Tenchi followed her a little hesitantly, it took them only a few minutes to prepare for bed. Tenchi hadn't realized it, but he had spent the entire day in the room packing and carrying boxes. It was nine o'clock now, tomorrow they had to be up early so they could bury his father next to his mother.
Tenchi climbed under the blanket dressed in only his shirt and a pair of boxers, he snuggled up with Ryoko finding she was wearing one of his school shirts as her night dress. They got comfortable and drifted off to sleep, much easier than either had believed.
Tenchi was gathered with his family, the sky overhead was steely gray pregnant rain clouds hung over head, looking at the tombstone of his mother and newly placed one for his father. The large extend family had already left, leaving only the ones living in the Masaki house.
The graves rested on the top of a hill, with cherry blossom trees surrounding the area. While normally they would have been buried in a Buddhist cemetery, his mother hand wished to be buried near the country side that she had loved, and his father had wished to be buried next this wife.
Slowly the other family members drifted away, first Kiyone then Mihoshi, Ukyo who had come out with them was already back at the house, he never left her side if he could help it. After a bit Washu left , leaving only Katsuhito, Tenchi, and Ryoko.
There was a rumbling of thunder a storm approaching. Tenchi kept his eyes locked on the headstone his face blank, Ryoko sensing something was laying beneath the surface between the to remaining Masaki males, stayed well out of ear shot of them.
Neither of them were willing to say a word, the first rain drop feel splashing the ground at their feet as both looked intently at the headstone. Finally Katsuhito spoke his voice like it always was. "Tenchi…"
The young male didn't bat an eye, nor did he react to his grandfathers voice. He continued looking at the headstone for several long minutes before he spoke. "Yes?"
"Sometimes we can not see the forest for the trees."
Tenchi frowned slightly at his grandfathers cryptic way of speaking. "I'm sorry to…"
Katsuhito didn't react he merely turned and glancing at Ryoko left quietly, another spattering of rain came down.
Ryoko waited until the old man was gone and then approached Tenchi. He didn't react to her, although she could tell he knew she was there. He spoke before she could. "You know what Ryoko?" She shook her head and he continued. "I Love you."
"I Love you to."
Ryoko watched as the rain started to pour down, the clouds giving way to the rain. She glanced over at her love, the man she was going to marry and despite the heavy rain saw that he was crying. He wasn't breaking down, he wasn't making a sound, he was merely crying. She reached over and took his hand and squeezed it.
He looked over at her and gave her a small comforting smile. Ryoko returned the smile as she felt him squeeze her hand back. Tenchi fished in his pocket and held his closed hand out to her. She looked at it and he open his hand up, her ring laying in the palm of his hand. "You should be wearing this…they would want you to."
Ryoko nodded slightly, slipping the ring on her finger. The rain seemed to pour down heavier than ever, Tenchi smiled at her and then looked up at the sky and frowned the rain beating against his face. "They finally got here."
Ryoko looked skyward and blinked realizing that he noise of the storm was being drowned out by large engines, she watched as a large ship, obviously Juraian in nature came through the clouds followed by a few Juraian battle ships.
Tenchi squeezed her hand again and lowered his head to the graves. He was no longer crying, he didn't move though he and Ryoko were content to just hold hands.
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Burning Ember: Glad you liked it, I'm trying but things keep slowing me down.
Spike: Well, here's chapter ten I hope its worth the wait.
spike: Well, I do my best.
Styxx: Well, I'm glad you love this fic, enjoy the latest chapter
Hammelwade: I'm glad you enjoyed the story. I hope you like chapter ten, Well that's your opinion but trust me it's not as far fetched as it might seem.
True*Dreamer : Well I'm glad you liked this chapter, there's no promise that she won't but it's going to be something big if she does. Or protecting that knuckle head Tenchi. I'm glad you approve of Aekea's future husband, lets just hope he doesn't get killed before this chapters through. I hope this chapter was worth the wait.
Alighthawk: hmmm….you are full of good suggestions. What would you suggest for this chapter's title? "Forest for trees?"
Well, I am writing him like that so I'm glad it came across. I think it's interesting though that as I write this, the way that Ukyo acts is different from how the other knights act. I hadn't planned it to be that way but oh well. I do expect that Tenchi sparing his life will have him rising up in the next battle. Lets just hope he doesn't get killed along the way, after all his romantic interest is Mihoshi.
Well, you have a possible answer to why Ryoko threw her around like that. Also Emi has been actively hitting on Tenchi so Ryoko has an intense dislike for her, so that's a factor as well.
Well, I am going to try to give mine a unique approach, I'm not to sure how this approach will work cause I have no clue how most things I set in motion will work out. I, unlike many writers I've talked to, never know how things are going to work out. I don't plan anything out except for the vaguest of an over all story plan. I just hope I can finish this epic before the Third OVA gets here. (Who knows maybe I can put out the sequel to this which will finish my tour of duty in Tenchi Epics.)
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AN: Now then, for those of you that haven't noticed a unique theme I'm using is this: No body is entirely safe from death. This means that by the end of this series your likely to find Tenchi, Ryoko, Aekea, Sasami, Washu and the others all dead....or then you may not....but just so you know I am going to be killing more members of the cast. Well only 17 pages but I think this was still good. I am sorry about the long delay in this chapter, I kept it short I think but I can't seem to stop with the delays. Forgive me? If you do I promise I'll give Tenchi and Ryoko immunity from death. (maybe.) In closing all other chapter disclaimers apply here.
Geor-sama
A Nekoshipper