THE JOB, Chapter 11: Home Sweet Home.

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: I would just like to mention that the scenes in these chapters are not necessarily happening at the same time. Please be kind and allow a day or two of leeway on either side. When the time comes, both threads will reunite.

AUTHOR: Dreamr

LAST REVISION: 31 January 2003

EMAIL: TrueDreamr@Hotmail.com

BEGIN.

Ryoko adjusted her dress collar as she and Tenchi stood at the front door to an average size home in the middle of an average residential development in an average town. The place was so normal, it was scary. Tenchi found himself having difficulty believing Ryoko had once lived here.

"I think you're more nervous than I am."

Ryoko folded her arms across her chest.

"I am not nervous."

Then why do you keep checking to see if your clothes are perfect?"

"I'm a lady. I have a right to look beautiful."

"Right..." Tenchi answered as he reached to the side of the door frame and pressed the door bell. It sounded with a simple ding-dong. "Ready?"

"No!" Ryoko immediately began tugging at her sleeves.

Ready or not, after a short wait the door opened inward, revealing a middle-aged woman in what appeared to be casual clothes of a somewhat western design. She had very pale skin and red hair done up in a loose bundle. She only got half a greeting out before she noticed Ryoko.

"Hel--- !" One hand went over her mouth and her eyes immediately began to tear.

For a moment, Ryoko was afraid to meet her foster-mother's gaze. Taking a deep breath, she looked up and blurted out the first thing she could think of.

"I'm home."

The woman, who would soon be identified as Futsuki, reached out to open the screen door, revealing the very emotional smile that had been hidden behind her hand. Tenchi stepped back just in time to avoid being knocked off the front porch as she rushed forward to engulf Ryoko in an immense embrace. Tenchi watched as Ryoko tensed for a second, then relaxed. She looked surprised at first. Then, as it sank in that she was being welcomed back with open arms, her expression slowly changed to one of relief, and then gratitude.

"You're not mad at me?"

Futsuki finally released her hold on Ryoko and held her at arms' length so she could get a better look at her.

"Of course not! But, my! How you've grown!"

Ryoko smiled at that.

"Yup! Tenchi's been taking good care of me."

Futsuki looked at Tenchi and smiled. But before she could greet him properly, her husband called to her from inside.

"Futsuki, who's at the door?"

Her smile grew wider as she recalled a certain bet she had made with her husband some years ago.

"Kagusa dear, you owe me seven years of dishes!"

Tenchi cracked a smile and Ryoko giggled as the man of the house finally revealed himself. Kagusa was an immense man of almost two meters* in height. It occurred to Tenchi that his business must be some sort of health product, for Kagusa certainly looked very healthy, as well as strong. His light polo shirt was stretched taught across his muscular chest, and his legs and arms showed the effects of many years of regular workouts. His blonde hair and blue eyes completed the Austrian bodybuilder look. Together, he and his wife reminded Tenchi of a strawberry shortcake. Although, he was too polite to mention the analogy. The gentleman did not speak or smile until he arrived at the door.

"I hate doing dishes." Then he smiled. "But, if it means having our little Ryoko back, then I'm happy to do them. And you even brought someone home, eh?"

Ryoko's smile grew even bigger as she grabbed hold of Tenchi's right arm.

"Tenchi, meet my foster parents, Kagusa and Futsuki Harada. Guys, this is Tenchi Masaki. He's my guy!" Ryoko began lovingly rubbing her cheek on the point of Tenchi's shoulder to prove it, causing him to blush.

"Uh, I don't recall agreeing to that."

Kagusa beckoned everyone into the house with a wave.

"Well, come on in. Don't be shy. I'm cooking my famous broiled salmon for dinner, tonight."

"Yes!" Ryoko cheered before explaining the significance of Kagusa's salmon. "He's not as good a cook as Sasami, but he's pretty close. Come on!"

With a tug on the arm, she hauled Tenchi into the entryway, with Futsuki close behind.

"Ryoko, dear. There's something I want to show you, if you can bear to part with Tenchi for a few minutes..."

Ryoko glanced from Futsuki to Tenchi and back again, unsure if she really wanted to be away from Tenchi.

"I guess..."

Futsuki smiled as she showed Tenchi to the kitchen where her husband was preparing dinner.

"Kagusa, dear, why don't you get acquainted with Tenchi while I show Ryoko what we've done with her room?"

"Sure, sure!" Kagusa's voice boomed as he tended to the stove. "Have a seat at the counter, Tenchi, and I'll get you a drink. Futsuki, it'll be a few extra minutes. I'll have to make up some more fish."

"Oh, sorry." Futsuki apologized to her guests. "We weren't expecting company, tonight. But you're certainly welcome to stay for as long as you like."

"Really?" Ryoko smiled again, pleased that she was still welcome in the house.

"Of course, dear! This is your home, too!"

"Mrs. Harada?" Everyone looked at Tenchi as he bowed deeply. "I'd like to thank you and your husband, Mr. Harada for inviting us in to your home." He continued as he stood straight. "We brought this along." Tenchi hefted the bottle of sake he had insisted Ryoko purchase along the way. "I know it's not much. But, I hope it will meet with your approval."

"You shouldn't have!" Futsuki exclaimed as she took the offering. "Look, dear!"

"What is it?" Kagusa asked as he moved to the refrigerator.

"Sake!"

"Hey, good idea, Tenchi! That'll go great with the salmon."

Tenchi was quick to point out who had actually made the choice, despite it being his idea, initially.

"Ryoko picked it out."

Kagusa laughed and shook his head as he pulled another package of defrosted, prewrapped salmon out of the cold space before him.

"Ryoko was always getting into the liquor cabinet. Wasn't much point in locking it, I guess."

Tenchi chuckled as he took the seat that Kagusa had offered him.

"Yeah, that sounds like Ryoko." When he turned his head to look at the young lady, Tenchi found that she was staring at him. He quickly looked away. But he had not failed to notice how truly grateful and appreciative she looked. Although it was a little disconcerting to see Ryoko displaying her emotions so openly, it did feel good to know he had made her smile.

Futsuki set the sake on the counter for the men to tend to.

"Why don't you guys have a drink, while I show Ryoko her room."

Ryoko looked at her foster-mother with great curiosity.

"You're not using it for storage or something?"

"Of course not! It's just the way you left it."

"Oh, my god!" With a flip and a twist, Ryoko leapt backwards over the stairway banister and shot up the stairs to see for herself. Futsuki followed along in the normal manner of walking.

Kagusa set the now unwrapped salmon aside so he could properly attend to the alcohol. He opened a drawer on the other side of the counter where Tenchi had not been able to see it, and removed a corkscrew bottle opener. Kagusa said nothing as he twisted the device into the cork, and then removed it with a pop. Directly over the counter at a height that was lower than Kagusa's head and higher than Tenchi's, was a wood and glass rack that held an assortment of glasses upside-down by their bases. Kagusa removed four glasses from the rack and set them down on the counter, where he filled them with the offering of sake. He set the bottle down, and then picked up two of the glasses, offering one to Tenchi, who, for once, accepted a drink.

"Tenchi, I'm a man of few words, so I'll get to the point. Futsuki and I can't have any children of our own, you see. So we went to an adoption agency. We were planning on a younger child. But when Futsuki saw Ryoko's picture, she immediately decided. We only had her for a year. But, in that short time, I saw an abused, reclusive, and angry girl begin to come out of her shell. I regret that I never got to see the rest of that transformation. So, whatever it is you're doing to make her so happy, please keep doing it."

Kagusa raised his glass, prompting Tenchi to follow suit.

"Uh, sure." Tenchi said before taking a drink with this mountainous man. Now all he had to do was figure out what it was he was doing to have that effect on Ryoko.

As she had been thinking before, Princess Aeka hated back-alley politics. This time, she was literally engaged in just that. Standing in a darkened parking garage in the depths of the royal palace, Aeka impatiently awaited the arrival of Captain Ieyasu Tatsuki. The two knights of Jurai, Azaka and Kamidake, were her only company. Even with them present, she still felt uneasy. Past rulers of Jurai had been assassinated in better places than this.

The whirring of an anti-gravity vehicle entering the upper levels prompt Azaka and Kamidake to look around. In this dingy environment, the First Princess's safety was foremost in their minds. The vehicle circled through the underground passages until it came to a stop two lanes away. For a few minutes, they could hear the sound of doors and trunks opening and closing. Then, only the sound of three people walking along the stone floor remained. The people made their way along the lane, then turned toward the far lane, where Aeka was waiting. She and her guardians watched carefully as they appeared at the end of her lane. As the strong features of the Captain became distinguishable in the darkness, the three of them relaxed. Beside him, were two persons unknown to Aeka. However, they were garbed similarly to Azaka and Kamidake. One had no weapon of any kind visible, while the other carried a thick staff of some hexagonally- shaped metal.

"Welcome, Captain. I hope you are not thinking I will be intimidated by your bodyguards."

"Of course not, Highness. These Knights are here for my personal protection, only."

"Knights? Azaka, have you reestablished the Knights of Jurai?"

"As soon as we returned, Highness."

Kamidake grinned.

"Don't you mean as soon as Princess Sasami left with her video games?"

Azaka groaned his reluctant acceptance of the truth. That silly game had taken up more of his time than he cared to admit. Aeka's soft giggle reminded him he was still appreciated for his services, despite the small transgression.

"These are our first students, Ibara and Gohgei. They were knighted only last month."

Both knights politely bowed to the princess, who nodded her greetings.

"I'm pleased to see the Knighthood making a return. Captain, have you brought the payment?"

"I have."

Gohgei hefted a briefcase, indicating his employer's payment was located inside.

"However, I would like to make a small request."

"What is your request?"

"I... have penned a letter to my daughter. I would like her to see it when she receives this."

"That would be difficult."

"You have my word, Princess, that I have not identified myself in any way. You may read it yourself if it will allay your concerns."

Aeka carefully considered the request before coming to a decision.

"Very well." With a glance, Aeka signaled to Azaka that he should receive the briefcase and letter from Gohgei, which he did. "The letter, please."

If she were going to read the personal missive, she was going to do it in front of the Captain so that there would be no misunderstandings. As she read through it, Aeka felt a slight grin coming on.

"Some of the language is a little suggestive as to her background."

The captain shrugged.

"I can't get anything by the First Princess of Jurai, can I?"

"Of course not. That is why I am First Princess. However, I see no harm in it. I... have a feeling it will be the farthest thing from her mind."

"Thank you, Princess. You are as gracious as I have heard."

This time, Aeka let her grin of amusement show.

"Flattery will get you no where, Captain. I believe this concludes our business. Good evening."

Captain Tatsuki bowed to the princess before turning to leave. The knights, Ibara and Gohgei, followed along side, solemnly performing their duties as bodyguards. But Aeka was not watching them. She was lost in thought again. She wondered if she really should deliver the letter. It was not the content that bothered her, but Ryoko's possible reaction to receiving a letter from her true father.

END.

AFTERWORD: *: Two meters is about 6 1/2 feet.