THE JOB, Chapter 14: Wish Upon A Starfish.
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: This is a very exciting chapter for me as the author. From this point on, some very important things begin to happen.
AUTHOR: Dreamr
LAST REVISION: 29 April 2003
EMAIL: TrueDreamr@Hotmail.com
BEGIN.
"You what!?"
Tenchi groaned as Ryoko glared at the male dock-side attendant who was taking tickets for the day-long fishing trip aboard a popular charter boat. The man was decked out in typical fishing attire, such as a set of dirty clothes with lots of old stains, and a white ball-cap.
"I'm very sorry, but we're over-booked, you see. We have to limit the number of people on board to the number of life-preservers available."
"Then why did you sell me the tickets in the first place?"
The bronze-skinned sailor bowed deeply in apology.
"I'm very sorry."
"Sorry!? I'll sorry you!"
Tenchi grabbed hold of Ryoko's arm as she took a step forward to vent her anger on the apologetic mate.
"Ryoko, take it easy! It's not like it's the end of the world!"
As soon as Tenchi took her arm, Ryoko cuddled up to him, forgetting about the problem. Tenchi immediately began to blush. It was no wonder either. She was wearing low-rider jeans and a cut-off tank-top shirt that flaunted her excellent figure. Two colorful strings that ran over her shoulders indicated she was wearing a bikini top underneath the shirt. Ryoko's left pointer finger slowly twirled around on his chest.
"But, Tenchi, we made a date! We're supposed to go fishing together, all day!"
"Well, uh..." Tenchi directed his gaze to the ship's crewman so he would not get distracted by Ryoko's curvature. "Is there another boat?"
The mate began wiping the side of his face with a white handkerchief as he apologetically explained the situation.
"I'm afraid not. This is a popular season, and charter boats are booked weeks in advance. But there might be a day rental boat available."
Although she was calmer than before, Ryoko still had not forgotten about the trip.
"Aren't you going to even offer me a refund?"
The sweat was now pouring from the man's brow.
"Ah! Well, yes. But, the captain is the owner, and he's the only one who can authorize a refund."
"Well, then. You'd better go get him before I lose my temper."
"Yes, ma'am!" The mate answered before scurrying off to find his captain. Tenchi sighed with relief.
"Did you really have to yell at him like that?"
"Yes. Some people just aren't properly motivated unless you light a fire under their ass."
"That's... an interesting way of putting it."
"It's true. Look."
Looking in the direction the mate had run-off in, Tenchi saw that the man was already returning with an older sailor in traditional attire, complete with a neatly trimmed white beard and blue officer's cap.
"Now what seems to be the trouble here?" The man, whom Tenchi was assuming to be the captain, asked as he arrived in front of the dissatisfied customers. Ryoko was quick to relate her complaint, complete with full-blown pout.
"We bought tickets for a fishing trip on your boat, and this guy", she pointed at the mate, "says they're no good."
"Where're the tickets?"
"Here." Tenchi held them out to the captain, who took them.
"Oi. They look good to me." He proclaimed after a careful examination.
"So we can go?" Ryoko hopefully asked.
"Nope. We've already got a full load. Every once in a while we get overbooked. When that happens, we have to go first-come, first-served. If'n ya had gotten here a bit sooner, we'da had room. But, as it is now, we're full-up."
Ryoko let go of Tenchi's arm as her temper began to boil over again.
"Then I want a refund!"
"Easy, lass! You'll getch'yer money back. I'm no thief."
The captain reached into his light coat and pulled out a thick wallet that looked, to Tenchi, like seal hide. Pulling out several bills, he handed them over to Ryoko.
"Here's yer money, and a little more fer yer trouble. Spend it wisely and ye'll be able to rent a boat and tackle for the day."
For just a moment, both Ryoko and Tenchi stared at the bills in surprise. Then Ryoko snatched the cash before anyone could object.
"Great! See ya!"
Grabbing Tenchi by the arm, she hauled him away before he could decline the extra money.
"Hang on, Ryoko! We can't take all that!"
"Yes, we can. It's called customer relations. When they screw up, they give you a little something extra so you'll say nice things about them to other people. And like he said, we can use this to find a boat and some gear."
"I guess..."
Once she judged that they were far enough away from where they had gotten their larger than expected refund, Ryoko released Tenchi to his own recognizance.
"Okay, here's the plan." Splitting the wad of cash in two unequal portions, Ryoko handed the smaller pile to Tenchi. "You go into that fishing store over there", she pointed to a nearby tackle and bait shop, "and get us some rods and stuff, while I go find us a boat."
"Okay. But..."
Ryoko lifted off into the air without waiting for confirmation of her instructions. Tenchi watched as the excitable young woman did a barrel-roll over an elderly couple out for an early morning stroll. He just shook his head. Ryoko seemed to be very pleased with the sudden change of plans.
"Ah, well..."
When Tenchi returned to the dock several minutes later, he found Ryoko waiting for him, along with the fastest looking boat he had ever seen. It was long and thin, with an insanely huge out-board motor. Someone had even painted breaking waves on the bow. Ryoko stood between the driver's and passenger's seat, waving enthusiastically. Walking to the side of the dock, Tenchi set the bait bucket, lunch snacks, and fishing poles down on the dock.
"Ryoko, that doesn't look like a fishing boat to me."
Ryoko's huge smile did not even waver.
"A boat's a boat."
"And how much did it cost to rent this?"
A small drop of sweat rolled down the side of Ryoko's face.
"Uh... it was a special bargain!"
Tenchi continued to stare suspiciously at the cigar-boat.
"I don't know..."
"Oh, come on, Tenchi! Don't be such a worry-wort! Just because we're going fishing, doesn't mean we can't have a little fun along the way!"
Ryoko floated up from the boat and grabbed the bag of goodies from the dock where Tenchi had set them down.
"Ah! You remembered lunch! That's so sweet!"
Tenchi's suspicion dwindled when he saw Ryoko smiling so joyously at his consideration of her ever-rumbling stomach.
"As long as you're volunteering to help load the boat, why don't you take this, too."
Picking up the 5-gallon bucket of fresh bait, Tenchi held it out as far as he could, which was not very far, considering how much five gallons of fresh squid and clams weighed. Ryoko took the bucket in one hand, wrinkling her nose.
"Phew!"
"If you want to catch fish, fresh bait is the way to go." Tenchi pointed out. "At least, that's what the salesperson said."
"Whatever." Ryoko set the bucket and bag on the bottom of the boat, then flew back to Tenchi's side, where he was already waiting with the rods in hand.
"Hang on." She advised, slipping her arms around his waist.
"Huh?"
Tenchi nearly panicked as Ryoko lifted off of the dock with him in her grasp. She always did things like this without warning him, so that he could not object beforehand. Thankfully, they landed on the deck of their rented boat without incident.
"There. That wasn't so bad, now, was it?" Ryoko asked, holding Tenchi tightly to her front.
"I wish you wouldn't do things like that."
"Spoil-sport."
With a grumble of dissatisfaction, Ryoko released Tenchi, allowing him to search for a place to store the bait where it would not tip over. Finding a set of storage cabinets along one side, he stowed the gear in there, hoping everything would stay put amongst the other gear in the cabinet. Some of the things in the cabinet looked like they might be personal belongings. But before he could inquire about them, the massive motor awoke with a deep-throated growl.
"Hey, hold on!"
Tenchi slammed the cabinet shut before leaping into the passenger seat. He just barely had time to buckle his seat belt before Ryoko nudged the boat into forward. Since they were already facing towards the mouth of the bay, there was little need to maneuver. As soon as they were clear of the dock, Ryoko slammed the accelerator forward. The outboard motor roared its approval as it pushed the boat forward at full power. Inertia crushed Tenchi into his seat as he nearly wet himself. Next to him in the driver's seat, Ryoko was laughing hysterically.
"Dear, Gods, protect us!" Tenchi prayed.
The coast fell away rapidly, leaving nothing but blue water under blue sky. Fortunately, Ryoko had enough common sense to stop before the coast-line disappeared entirely. She levered the accelerator back, allowing the small vessel to come to a stop. She was about to reach under the steering column to disconnect the ignition wires when she realized Tenchi was watching her. Exercising a little more caution, she phased her hand into the side opposite from Tenchi so that he would not see that she had hot-wired the boat. The motor returned to a state of restfulness.
"Well! Here we are."
"Here we are." Tenchi nodded in agreement, still watching Ryoko.
"What?" She asked.
Tenchi finally looked forward, rather than at her.
"I was just wondering... why do you like doing things so recklessly?"
Ryoko leaned back in her chair, staring off into the sky. It had been a long time since she had thought about things like that.
"Hmm..."
"Or... is that something I shouldn't ask?"
"No. It's just... I never really thought about it like that. Mmm... How do you feel about drugs?"
"You mean like dope and stuff?"
Ryoko laughed.
"Is that what you call it down here? Well, I've tried some stuff, and some of it I liked. But, I felt like the drug was controlling me, rather than the other way around. Coming down sucked, too. The worst ones were the ones that made me hallucinate. With my powers, being out of control is a bad thing."
"I'll bet." Tenchi agreed.
"So, I take risks because I like the excitement. It's a rush that I can control. I guess you could say I'm getting high on life."
Ryoko took a sidelong glance at Tenchi to see how he was reacting to what she had said. Tenchi was sitting in his seat, quietly contemplative.
"I was just experimenting." Ryoko quickly added, hoping to cast herself in the best light possible under the circumstances.
"I know." Tenchi acknowledged. "I never did any of that stuff. Although, a student at school offered me marijuana, once."
"Really? What'd you do?"
"I said no, then went to the principal and turned him in."
"No kidding. What happened to him?"
"He got expelled."
"Ow. Harsh."
"Well, school's a place for learning, not selling drugs."
Both Ryoko and Tenchi sat silently for a moment, just thinking about things, until Tenchi remembered why they were out.
"How come we got so serious all of a sudden? Aren't we supposed to be having fun?"
Ryoko fondly smiled at Tenchi as he got up out of his seat and stretched.
"Let's fish!"
Zipping along the late-afternoon wave-tops at tremendous speed, Tenchi began to notice the scenery was different than when they had left the harbor. They were closer to the coast line, and the mouth of the bay was not yet in sight. The water was calmer, and looked to be fairly shallow.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" He shouted over the roaring of the outboard motor.
"Sure I'm sure! We left going East, so we return by going West. Even I know that much."
Despite Ryoko's assurances, he still had a bad feeling. Those feelings got worse when he began to see buoys with red vertical stripes between them and the shore. But he kept quiet. He had no familiarity with this area, and Ryoko had once lived nearby. If she said they were good, then he had no choice but to believe her. However, when more buoys of varying colors and coding became visible, he really began to doubt the accuracy of Ryoko's memory.
"Ryoko, I think we should slow down!"
"No way! Tonight's your birthday celebration!" A large smile began to spread across Ryoko's face as she turned her head to look at him. "Can't miss that, now, can we?"
Tenchi managed to hold his gaze on Ryoko for several seconds, despite the obvious interest in her eyes. It made him feel like something might happen tonight, if only he could work up the courage. Suddenly self-conscious of where his thoughts were straying, he faced forward again. A large buoy with black vertical stripes was looming right in front of them.
"Look out!" Tenchi shouted, pointing at the impending obstacle.
Ryoko's attention snapped forward. She jerked the steering wheel to the right, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with the marker. A loud bong-sound was heard as they just scraped by the metal buoy. Ryoko laughed.
"Lucky! Channel marker!"
Tenchi exhaled in relief as Ryoko headed straight for the next identical marker. Looking around he could see they had passed directly between two buoys with big red diamonds. Apparently, the red markers were for danger, and the black ones for safe passage. At least, that was Tenchi's guess.
"I think the black ones are safe, and the red ones are danger."
"Sounds good to me."
"And I still think we should slow down!"
"Don't be such a scaredy-cat, Tenchi!"
Tenchi kept to himself until he saw a buoy with a black top ahead of them. Ryoko also noticed the marker.
"There's the end!"
Although the color of the stripe matched Tenchi's earlier assertation, the water beneath it looked suspiciously dark compared to the surrounding light, sandy color.
"Ryoko, I think we have to turn here."
"No way. That's got to be it! It's black, just like the others."
Tenchi looked around, hoping for some other signal as to what to do. At their current speed, they had little time to make a decision to alter course. To each side, he could see darkness under the water. The channel they had blundered into was sandy, giving the bottom a lighter color. The black-striped buoys seemed to indicate the center of the safe area. But the fact that the buoy ahead had a single horizontal stripe at the top, rather than multiple vertical stripes all around, still did not sit well with him. What could be different about that place that necessitated a different kind of marking?
Continuing to scan the surrounding area as they sped along, Tenchi saw the reason. Almost directly to the right, past a point of rocks, he saw another of the vertically striped buoys floating peacefully in the middle of the channel, which continued off in that direction.
"Turn right!"
Surprised at the forcefulness of Tenchi's call, Ryoko looked in the indicated direction. She comprehended the meaning of what she saw. But before she could act on it, Tenchi lunged out of his seat to turn the wheel. At the speed they were going, there was no way they could make the turn. Tenchi spun the wheel causing the rear of the boat to slide around. However, the boat's inertia at this speed was too great to overcome. The boat flipped over, unceremoniously dumping the passengers out into the water. The boat spun in the air only a few feet above the water's surface. Gravity pulled it down right on top of the rock shelf that the buoy's designers were trying to tell people to avoid by turning North. Wood and plastic burst apart, sending boat fragments and fuel raining down in all directions.
Tenchi and Ryoko soon surfaced. They floated in the gently rolling swells, looking around at the maritime disaster. Tenchi groaned.
"We are so dead."
"Um... No, not really."
Tenchi stared into Ryoko's eyes for several seconds. There was no sign of nervousness or worry on her face.
"Why not?"
Ryoko opened her mouth to tell Tenchi that it was because no one knew the boat was gone. But then she realized that if she did, she would have to admit to Tenchi that she had stolen it.
"Um, because... uh..."
Tenchi sighed with regret.
"I knew it. You did steal it."
"I did not! I just rented it for free."
"Same thing."
"No, it's not. When you steal, you keep it. I was gonna take it back."
"Taking something without permission is stealing, Ryoko!"
Hearing Tenchi raising his voice at her got right under Ryoko's collar. She had only been trying to do something nice for him, and now he was yelling at her. She looked him right in the eye, daring him to continue challenging her.
"There weren't any rentals left."
"That doesn't mean you had to steal one."
Ryoko's lips peeled back as her frustration level hit maximum saturation. She had done things that she had sworn long ago that she would never do again in order to earn the money in a way that Tenchi would approve of.
"Look! I busted my ass to earn the money to take you on this trip! I'll be god-damned if some friggin' sailor-boy who can't even count is gonna ruin it for me!"
Tenchi cocked his head for a moment as he considered her words.
"What about the person who saved up the money to buy that boat?"
Ryoko's eyes went wide with surprise.
"Well, um...
"How do you think that person feels, knowing someone ruined all their plans?"
Ryoko looked away as Tenchi's words prompted an upwelling of a very uncommon feeling for her: guilt. Her gaze fell upon the pile of rocks that the boat had smashed upon. Eager to escape the uncomfortable argument, as well as Tenchi's accusing look, she floated up out of the water, and over to the rocks. Once her feet were again on solid earth, she turned around. Tenchi had noticed where she was going, and was also taking advantage of the solid ground.
Looking down into the rocks below her feet, Ryoko noticed a large starfish slowly crawling its way along on some journey to further its existence. A warm memory suddenly popped into her head. Reaching into the pooling water, she carefully peeled the creature from its place.
"Hey, Tenchi. Check it out."
Tenchi reluctantly looked up to see what Ryoko had found.
"Great. A starfish."
Ignoring Tenchi's sarcasm, Ryoko tossed the five-legged creature high into the air.
"Make a wish."
The corners of Tenchi's mouth curled up slightly at the odd idea. He spoke the first thing that came to mind.
"I wish you were more responsible."
The young lady looked sullenly out to sea as the starfish fell into the ocean. She had also made a wish. But hearing what Tenchi had wished for made it seem so far away.
"You don't know what you're asking."
"Yes, I do. It means living up to your obligations and admitting when you've made a mistake."
"Not for me."
"Ryoko, it applies to everybody."
Tenchi watched as Ryoko's chin slowly sank to her chest.
"You don't understand..."
"You're right. I don't understand. Tell me what I'm missing."
Ryoko shut her eyes tight.
"I can't."
Tenchi sighed with frustration. He understood that Ryoko was a complicated person, and he was prepared to accept that she had a rough background. But, for him to ever become involved with her the way he knew she wanted, there were some issues that needed to be addressed.
"Ryoko, listen."
The young lady did not allow Tenchi to speak further.
"No! You listen to me! My life sucked until I met you. You've lived your life with friends and family, in a big house out in the country, never thinking about how the rest of us have to live. I was only with Kagusa and Futsuki for a year. But, for that year, I felt like a normal girl. I was thinking... I might be able to find that feeling again with you."
Tenchi was struck dumb by the nature of what Ryoko was admitting to him. She had never spoken of such things to him before. He had always thought Ryoko was somehow proud of herself for being so independent.
Ryoko crouched down over the water, morosely staring into the salt water lapping at her feet.
"Once, not far from here, I got caught in a storm. My boat sank, and I almost drowned."
"Um..." Tenchi would have pointed out that she could easily fly to escape the storm. But Ryoko beat him to it.
"You try flying around in a typhoon. It's no picnic, even for me. I washed-up on a beach, where a cute little cabbit found me."
"Ryo-o-ki?" Tenchi asked.
"Yeah. But I hadn't named her, yet. She was just a cabbit that showed me where to find food and water. She saved my life. One night, we were lying on the beach, looking up at the sky, when we saw a shooting star. So, we both made wishes. She wished for a name, and I wished for a spaceship. I was gonna keep it a secret. But, since I knew Ryo-o-ki wanted me to give her a name, I told her what I had wished for." Ryoko chuckled at the memory of how delighted she had been at that moment. "It about blew my mind when she jumped into the air and turned into a ship. And don'cha know, I though of a name for her, right then and there. If she and I hadn't shared our wishes, neither of them would have come true."
Ryoko returned her gaze to Tenchi. He did not look angry or disappointed anymore. There was a slight breeze in the air. The ethereal movement pushed her hair about, giving even more life to an individual who was already very much alive.
"You told me your wish. So, now, I have to tell you mine."
By the look in Ryoko's eyes, Tenchi could tell she was about to try something drastic. Every once in a while, when she got this look, Ryoko would act from the heart. Of course, that did not necessarily mean what she did was well-advised. He started to get very nervous when she stood up and floated to his side.
"Um, you know, Ryoko, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Tenchi tried to lean away as the somber vixen sat down next to him and wrapped an arms around his neck, holding him close.
"True. But, I want you to know."
Ryoko leaned so close that her mouth was right against Tenchi's ear. Then she whispered her most precious wish to him.
"Tenchi, I want you to know that... I love you, and I want to be with you, forever."
Tenchi's heart seized. This was not at all like listening in while Ryoko talked with her foster-mother. She was speaking her feelings to him openly and honestly. For a blinding second, his mind filled with images of their adventure through space and time in Washu's lab. Gun-battles and daring escapes replayed before his mind's eye. With an immense thud, Tenchi's heart suddenly restarted. The sudden restart of his blood-flow was accompanied by a feeling of regret. Looking out at the debris strewn water, he knew he could not live his life this way.
"I... can't."
Ryoko's breath caught for a moment when she heard Tenchi's reply. Pain started in her chest; the kind of sharp, twisting pain that left unheallable scars. Suddenly, Ryoko could not stand to be anywhere near Tenchi. She leapt into the air in her effort to get away from him.
"Ryoko, wait!"
"You didn't even think about it!" She shouted at him. "If you didn't want to be with me, why did you even come on this trip to begin with?! What more do you want from me?!"
Tenchi's eyebrows went right into his hair-line. Actually, he had made up his mind to make an honest attempt to see if there could be something between him and Ryoko. But she was completely misinterpreting his intentions. Tenchi wanted to clarify his response. But Ryoko was so upset, he was afraid he would only make things worse.
"Why am I always the one who has to change? Why am I always the one who's wrong? Why can't you love me?"
"Ryoko, you can't force something like that!"
Up to this point, Ryoko had been trying very hard to keep her temper in check. This was Tenchi, not some punk space pirate with delusions of grandeur. She only wanted him to accept her and show her the kind of love she had once gotten a glimpse of. She had trusted him completely with the fragile feelings that she had finally come to know. But now her patience was at an end. Too many bad experiences had left her with an imperfect understanding of how to relate to a serious romantic interest. All she knew was the way she had been treated in the past. Even with all the years separating her from those events, she still was not in control of her own destiny.
"Oh, yeah? Well, why don't you tell that to all the bastards who've raped me!"
Tenchi stared at Ryoko for several seconds before he could comprehend what she had just said.
"Raped... you?"
Ryoko turned away, unable or perhaps unwilling to speak to him. Tenchi started to worry about her sudden calm coolness.
"I... I'm sorry. I... didn't know."
"No shit." Ryoko said, rubbing at her eyes. "Look, I got your message loud and clear. So, before I go, there's just one thing I want to say."
"Wait. What do you mean, go?"
The crack of an opened handed slap echoed across the sea. Tenchi slowly raised a hand to the red imprint stamped on his face. His cheek began to burn and itch where Ryoko had just slapped him.
"Ow..."
"Sanctimonious asshole." Ryoko vindictively spat the words at him before leaping into the sky.
Tenchi sat on the rocks, too stunned to speak. There had never been cause for one of them to strike the other before today. It did not seem like such a huge favor to ask her to quit breaking the law. However, the admission that she had let slip out was now burned into his memory. That knowledge caused two very immediate changes in his perception of Ryoko. No longer could he consider her as an antagonist. Ryoko was also a victim. It also forced him to consciously contemplate her sexuality; something he had intentionally avoided doing, until now. Tenchi sat amidst the debris on a small pile of rocks in the ocean, contemplating a great many things until almost dusk, when he finally realized that Ryoko was not going to return for him. Locating a white circular floatation ring that had gotten caught on the rocks, he started swimming towards shore.
END.
AFTERWORD: I agonized for weeks over how much and what kind of emotional display should accompany this chapter. There were revisions and revisions and more revisions, followed by changes, and rewrites, and yet more revisions, until I finally settled on this version. My intention was to convey a sense of loss, rather than sympathy. Tell me if I have been successful.
My apologies in advance if I have misused any of the buoys I wrote about. For more information on some different kinds of buoys, go to .