THE JOB, Chapter 8: Hidden Dreams.

DISCLAIMER: Tenchi Muyou! is copyright AIC/Pioneer, LDC. I claim no rights to it. However, all events in this story are entirely of my own imagination. Please don't change them. Feel free to distribute this story as widely as desired.

FOREWORD: Ryoko pops the question to Tenchi. Now how am I going to get rid of Aeka? My idea may seem cliche, but it's not. Trust me.

AUTHOR: Dreamr

LAST REVISION: 21 November 2002

EMAIL: TrueDreamr@Hotmail.com

BEGIN.

Blue sky, cloudless and clear. The sun was lower now. But it was still warm.

"I love days like this."

Stretched out on top of the large arch that marked the entrance to the Masaki Shrine, Ryoko closed her eyes. Without the sense of sight distracting her mind, she was able to concentrate more on the feel of the warm sun on her skin.

"I have everything I could ever want. Except..."

In her state of relaxation, Ryoko's mind slipped easily to thoughts of Tenchi. Her favorite memory was of the first and only time he had ever actually put his arms around her. The thudding of the woman's heart became strong and loud.

"Man, I've got it bad." With a groan, Ryoko sat up. "How the Hell did I fall so hard? Bah. Who cares? I love him."

Through the passion coursing in her veins, Ryoko groaned out a name.

"Tenchi..."

A voice called up to her from directly below.

"What's up, Ryoko?"

The sound of Tenchi's voice startled Ryoko out of her mutterings. Leaning over the side to look down, she saw Tenchi looking back up at her. As was normal for this time of day, he was facing towards the house, and had a broom slung over his shoulder. She leaned over a little further and promptly fell off.

Tenchi cringed as Ryoko performed a perfect face-plant on the shrine steps in front of him. She was quick to recover, but the damage was already done. Quickly getting to her feet, the normally nimble Ryoko tried to pretend like it was nothing.

"Uh, hey, Tenchi! Welcome home."

Tenchi stared at her face for a moment. Then he dropped his broom and began taking off his shirt.

Ryoko blushed as she watched Tenchi remove the clothing from his torso, revealing his farmer's build. She began to wonder if she were going to get what she had been dreaming off just a minute ago.

"Tenchi?"

"Here." Tenchi held the wadded up shirt to Ryoko's face. "Your nose is bleeding."

"My noshe?"

"Yeah. That was quite a fall. Why don't we go back to the house and get you some ice."

Ryoko's chest began to tighten. It had been a long time since Tenchi had shown her so much concern. She raised her hand to the shirt, taking it from him.

"I..."

"What is it?"

For a moment, Ryoko's imagination took over, and she imagined telling Tenchi that she loved him. He would say he loved her, too. Then he would take her in his warm embrace and hold her forever.

"Ryoko?"

Tenchi's voice broke her reverie. She was suddenly glad for the shirt, since it hid the embarrassing blush she knew was flooding her face with red.

"You big goof."

Tenchi's eyes went wide in confusion as Ryoko dropped his shirt. Then, she stepped forward and embraced him.

"Uh..."

"Would you just shut up and hold me for once?"

"Ryoko..."

She tightened her grip a bit.

"Please?"

It was so rare that Ryoko asked for anything that Tenchi found himself at a loss. Although he did not react physically, he did think of something to say.

"Ryoko, I really think we should go inside."

Ryoko's arms began to relax around his shoulders as she cooed into his ear.

"But, Tenchi. Don't you like me?"

"Well, sure. It's just..."

"Then prove it. Let's go on a trip together, just you and me."

Tenchi's face began to turn red.

"You know..."

Ryoko finally pulled back so she could look into his face.

"You said you wanted to, remember?"

"I did?"

"Mmm-hmm. When I helped you rescue Aeka." Stepping back, the ex-pirate released Tenchi so that she could more effectively convey the importance of her assistance in that incident. "In fact, if it wasn't for me, you would never have made it to Jurai at all."

Tenchi stared intently into Ryoko's eyes. He remembered very well how Ryoko had finally consented to showing him the way to the Jurai Imperial Palace after he had insisted on rescuing Aeka from the pretender, Kagato. He also vividly remembered the wound she had taken fighting for his family. His honor demanded that he should repay her for risking her life. Looking down, Tenchi saw his crumpled shirt lying in the dust. He stooped down to retrieve it.

"Don't try to tell me you forgot."

"No." Tenchi answered as he stood. "I haven't forgotten. I remember how much I owe you for what you did for my family."

Summoning as much courage as possible, Tenchi returned his gaze to Ryoko's face. The thin film of red just under her nose seemed to glare angrily at him. He reached up with the shirt to wipe the last of the blood away. Ryoko held still, allowing him the gesture.

"All right."

Ryoko's face lit up light a Christmas tree. Tenchi could not remember having ever seen her looking so happy.

"Really?!"

Tenchi smiled.

"Really."

"YEAH!"

With a cry of joy, Ryoko lunged for Tenchi, tackling him in an immense hug. Unable to withstand the force of her excitement, Tenchi fell backwards onto the ground with her on top of him. From underneath, Tenchi tried to calm the excited young woman.

"Jeez, Ryoko, take it easy!"

From the direction of the house, Ryo-o-ki came bounding along. She headed straight for Ryoko.

"Myan! Mya mya myan!"

Ryoko looked up over Tenchi's head to see what the cabbit thought was so important.

"What? I'm busy."

Ryo-o-ki sat up and began wildly gesticulating at the house.

"Myeow! Mya mya myan mya mya!"

Ryoko listened in rapt attention.

"You're kidding!"

"Myan!"

Tenchi watched as the two females communicated in a way he could only guess at.

"What's going on?"

A wide grin suddenly appeared on Ryoko's face.

"Well. It looks like my life just got a whole lot better."

Tenchi easily guessed at her new source of excitement.

"Aeka's leaving?!"

Ryo-o-ki nodded in affirmation.

"Myan!"

Tenchi began pushing against Ryoko so he could get to his feet.

"Get off. I have to talk to Aeka."

Ryoko looked down at him.

"What for?"

Redoubling his efforts, Tenchi managed to shove her to the side.

"Hey!"

Without even an apology, Tenchi stumbled to his feet, and then ran for the house. Ryoko watched his receding form.

"What the Hell's so important?"

Tenchi raced up the stairs to the room Aeka shared with her sister. The smell of Sasami's cooking was wafting up the stairwell, filling the air with delicious scents. As he reached Aeka's door, he peering in through the opening to see what was going on. Within, Aeka was busily folding her cloths and placing them in neat stacks next to a pair of large containers shaped just like her two guardians, Azaka and Kamidake, who were also in attendance.

"Aeka."

The princess turned and smiled when she saw Tenchi.

"Good evening, Lord Tenchi. Welcome home."

Tenchi stood still as he tried to think of something to say. As he thought, he happened to notice Aeka's eyes kept drifting downwards from his face. When he looked to see what she was staring at, he realized that he was still bare-chested.

"Uh... don't go anywhere! I'll be right back."

Aeka began to giggle with amusement as Tenchi took off to find a shirt. He returned barely a minute later, still tucking in his shirt tails.

"Was there something you wished to discuss?"

"Um... well, I heard you're leaving."

"Yes, that's correct. Something has come up and I must return to Jurai for a short time to deal with it."

"So, you're coming back?"

"Of course."

Tenchi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Sensing that his sigh was of relief, Aeka allowed a small smile to grace her features.

"But, thank you for your concern, Lord Tenchi."

Tenchi's eyes popped open.

"Uh, well... I mean... um..."

Aeka giggled again before returning to her preparations.

"I anticipate returning within a month."

"Oh. So, what's the occasion?"

"Well... I came across some information the other day that did not sit well with me. I'm afraid it's gotten to the point where I'm beginning to lose sleep over it. That is not a good thing for a beautiful princess. Therefore, I have decided to go to Jurai to ascertain the truth of what I have heard. If the information is correct, which I seriously doubt considering the source, then it must be dealt with in an official manner, which I cannot do here. If it turns out the entire story is a fabrication, then I should be back sooner. If not, it could take a while. Either way, my conscience will not allow me to sit idly by."

"It sounds really important."

"I must learn the truth of it, either way. However, no matter what happens, I will return. You have my word."

"Aeka, I..."

The tension in Tenchi's voice alerted Aeka to something being amiss. She turned around once more to see what was wrong.

"Is something wrong, Lord Tenchi?"

"There's... something that came up with me. And... I guess I'm going to be taking a trip, too."

"Oh. It's a shame I'll miss it. But, I'm sure everyone will have a good time."

Tenchi began nervously scratching the back of his head.

"Well, it's not quite that kind of trip."

Now he had Aeka's full attention. This morning's breakfast conversation immediately came to mind.

"May I ask what kind of trip it is, then?"

"It's..."

Tenchi hesitated to answer. He really did not want to tell Aeka he had agreed to go on a trip alone with Ryoko. But he truly felt it would be wrong not to tell her.

"It's Ryoko."

Aeka's eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"Ryoko?"

"I... owe her, for helping to rescue you."

All feeling suddenly drained from Aeka's soul.

"I see."

Tenchi carefully watched Aeka's expression, trying to determine if she were angry or upset. She seemed to be remaining fairly neutral. But she was no longer looking directly at him, as if doing so were somehow painful. If he had to make a guess, he would say she was very carefully thinking about what he had just said.

"So, you have chosen, then?"

"No! I mean... no. It's not like that. It's just that I owe her for risking her life, and I guess this is what she wants in return. I mean, if you think about it, it could be a lot worse."

A small grin cracked Aeka's stony facade. Tenchi's half-joking statement was completely true, which was what made it so entertaining.

"I suppose so."

"Please, try to understand."

"I don't suppose there is any way I can convince you to change your mind?"

"I don't think that would be a very good idea."

Aeka sighed.

"I suppose not. Very well, then. When I return, I expect to have some very important information to tell you. I am not doing this out of spite. However, I feel you deserve to know the truth. On the odd chance that the information is true, then I have much work to do."

"My ship will arrive first thing in the morning. So I'll be up early. Thank you very much for your hospitality, Lord Tenchi. I look forward to returning soon."

So much formality always put Tenchi ill at ease. But it was Aeka's way.

"Uh, sure. I... hope you find what you're looking for."

Not quite willing to voice her opinion on Tenchi's last statement, Aeka kept her answer to herself.

"No, I don't think you do."

END.

AFTERWORD: Next stop, Vacation Land! I'll try to put in a small bit about what Aeka's doing on Jurai, while Tenchi and Ryoko are on their trip. But, that may make the chapter too long, in which case, I'll put it in the following chapter. I think this story's a bit more than half done.