THE JOB, Chapter 23: The Games We Play.
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: In this chapter, the scene is set for the finale of The Job.
AUTHOR: Dreamr
LAST REVISION: 08 April 2005
EMAIL: silently observed Tenchi from the balcony overlooking the royal garden. Actually, the garden's size made it more like a park. The young man was sitting by himself on a rope-and-board swing suspended from a branch in an ancient old oak tree. Aeka's father had made that swing for her when she was five. It had been a source of great joy for her until the day news of her father's death had reached her. Now that swing only brought Aeka sad memories.
She watched as Tenchi began to swing back and forth. It gladdened Aeka to see the swing could still bring joy to someone. Tenchi pumped back and forth, making the swing go higher and higher. She began to grow concerned when the swing's arc began to approach the horizontal plane. Higher and higher the swing went, until Tenchi suddenly jumped. He flew up and out, describing a graceful arc through the air until he came crashing down into the bushes.
"TENCHI!" Aeka shrieked leaping from the balcony. She squatted as she hit the ground, absorbing the impact without injury. The princess sprinted to where she had seen Tenchi fall, her royal robes flutterring and waving around her, baring her legs to any who cared to see. Heedless of her own safety, Aeka jumped into the thorny roses. Tenchi lay amungst the thorns and red blossoms, scratched, but otherwise unharmed. He stared up at the sky with a blank expression on his face as Aeka dropped to her knees beside him.
"Lord Tenchi! For God's sake, why did you do that? You scared the life out of me!"
"Ryoko's going to die, and it's all my fault."
So that's what this was about. Aeka shook her head in denial of what Tenchi had just said.
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is. Ryoko turned herself in because of what I said."
"That doesn't mean she's going to die!"
"Yes, it does. Any idiot can see it."
"But... Tenchi, you musn't give up hope!"
"What hope is there, when the penalty for Ryoko's crimes is death?"
Aeka began to shake at hearing Tenchi speak of losing hope. She had always felt as if he were stronger than anyone. For Tenchi to admit he had lost hope, he must be truly desolate.
"I command you not to give up hope. And If you do not, I shall do something dreadful."
"Whatever it is, it can't possibly make me feel any worse than I do right now."
For several seconds, Aeka sat at Tenchi's side, with her fists clenched in her lap, and tears stinging her eyes. Slowly, she raised her right hand up over her head.
"If you utter one more fatalistic or hopeless word, I'll hit you."
Tenchi closed his eyes.
"Go ahead. I deserve it."
For a moment, Aeka hesitated. Tenchi was calling her on the threat, and now she had to either fold or make good on it. Her closed hand shook above her head with the strain. Then, she dropped her fist, letting it fall softly to Tenchi's chest even as her tears fell on the crushed rose blossoms beneath her knees.
"There. I've hit you. Happy now?"
If the situation had not been so emotional, Tenchi might have smiled at the sarcasm. But the utter desolation he felt at the prospect of Ryoko's imminent execution had drained all humor from him. In addition, he had not forgotten that Aeka still held the power of pardon. Although Tenchi understood that Aeka and Ryoko were not only rivals for his attention, but disliked each other quite a bit, he still found it difficult to believe that Aeka would allow Ryoko to be executed. Looking up at the princess, Tenchi saw only his friend, Aeka; a sweet and demure lady, who was very concerned for him. In a way, he felt guilty for his attraction to Ryoko. But that feeling of attraction was so strong now that he could no longer deny what was in his heart. Tenchi sat up.
"Aeka, I can't let Ryoko die. I just can't."
"You said it yourself." Aeka replied, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "She did do all those things. Why does she deserve to go free when others do not?"
"Is that why you won't pardon her?" Tenchi tried not to look harshly at Aeka. He felt no enmity towards Aeka for her inaction, only sadness.
Aeka froze when she heard Tenchi's words. She had hoped and prayed that somehow Tenchi would not learn of that. Being something of a pragmatist, she had not truly expected it would turn out that way. So, she had mentally rehearsed what she would say to Tenchi to explain herself in this situation. But all the mental practice in the world didn't help her cope with the fluttering of her heart in such a tense situation. Hastily, Aeka wiped at her eyes.
"As I said, why does Ryoko deserve to go free when others do not?"
Tenchi found himself at a bit of a loss. Aeka's response made sense. Other than his feelings, what was different about Ryoko that entitled her to freedom? Tenchi could not conjure a response to answer that question satisfactorily. However, there was one other option to try.
"Ryoko helped us when we needed it the most. She helped you."
Aeka straightened her back at hearing Tenchi's talk of honor.
"Yes, she did. That is why I returned to Jurai; to discharge that debt." Seeing an opportunity to show Tenchi something that he would most likely approve of, Aeka got to her feet. "Lord Tenchi, there's something I would like to show you."
Tenchi correctly deduced from Aeka's desire to show him something that, whatever it was, it had to do with Ryoko. His curiosity was sufficiently piqued for him to rise again and follow Aeka to where ever it was she wished to go. As Tenchi got up, Aeka took his hand.
"Come."
Tenchi went.
Aeka laid a set of official records in front of Tenchi so that he could see her efforts for himself. Tenchi sat at a smallish desk in Aeka's private study where the princess kept important papers and documents, as well as a picture of her family. Tenchi looked at the picture, deducing the persons holding young Aeka and a little blue-haired baby as the princesses' parents. Tenchi wanted to ask about them, but Aeka was already explaining about the files she was presenting to him.
"Lord Tenchi, these are official files and subject to privacy laws, official investigations, and other such requirements. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't discuss what I'm showing you with anyone else."
"I understand."
"These files are all records of arrests and upcoming cases against certain individuals who have committed despicable crimes. Some of these people are very well-known, some are not."
As Tenchi scanned over the pictures and names, he noticed the slick-haired man from the funeral boat. He set his right index finger on the man's picture.
"Isn't this person one of your ministers?"
"Not anymore." Aeka smugly replied.
"What did he do?"
"Besides assassinating one of my other ministers, he was also the leader of a large prostitution ring that specialized in under-aged girls. I would direct your attention to the list of accusors." Aeka put her finger on a paragraph of names several lines long. Tenchi followed Aeka's finger until he found a name he recognized.
"Ryoko Harada." Tenchi looked up at Aeka. "Our Ryoko?"
"Yes. Mister Sakahara was Head of Social Services on Caladan when Ryoko was placed in a school for juvenile delinquents after her first arrest." Aeka intentionally omitted the part about how she was the one who had captured Ryoko.
"I didn't know that." Tenchi began shuffling through the papers, hoping to find a picture of Ryoko when she was younger.
"Of course not. I doubt she would appreciate me telling you any of this. Fortunately for Ryoko, she was already far stronger than her jailors and was able to resist their nefarious requirements. As she was of no use to them, the system was allowed to work, and she was eventually placed with a family, Kagusa and Futsuki Harada, from whom she takes her family name."
"I met them."
"The Harada family?" Aeka asked, surprised.
"Yes. When Ryoko and I went on our trip, she took me to meet them." Tenchi smiled at the happy memory. "They seemed like nice people. Did you know Ryoko played baseball in middle-school?"
Aeka shook her head. Every moment in time that had anything to do with Ryoko was always a revelation.
"There were other issues." Aeka continued while giving Tenchi a disapproving look. "Azaka and Kamidake informed me of your visit to the court room today. So, you should know a bit about Ryoko's origins."
"I can't believe someone would actually do that." Tenchi pushed the one folder away to start looking through another.
"I don't wish to go into the details, but I have independantly verified every accusation against all of these people. Each of them, in one way or another, has taken advantage of Miss Ryoko, amung others. Some of the crimes are so disgusting I won't even speak of them. But... Lord Tenchi, these men will be punished, I swear it."
"I believe you." Tenchi murmured as he found Ryoko's name on another list. He also went looking for the charges this individual, a high-ranking priest, was accused of. What Tenchi found made his eyes burn with anger.
"This is disgusting."
Aeka nodded, feeling vindicated that Tenchi was voicing the same opinion that she held of these people.
"I agree completely."
Tenchi closed the file, putting all the horrid information out of sight.
"Why is it that every time I come to Jurai, people are hurting and killing each other?"
Tenchi's observation so shocked Aeka that she stood in stunned silence for several seconds before she could even think of responding to it.
"That's not true."
"It sure seems that way." Tenchi grumbled as he got up out of the chair to take a walk around the room.
As he meandered around aimlessly while his mind settled, Tenchi noticed a large painting of a Jurai ship in space, hanging above an unused fireplace. Tenchi paused in his tulmultuous pacing to look at the ship. "This looks like your ship."
"No." Aeka joined Tenchi in front of the picture. "That was my father's ship, Kirito."
"Was?"
Aeka always felt reluctant to tell of her parents, prefering to remember them as they were when alive.
"Shortly after Sasami's birth, my father's ship was ambushed by the largest fleet of pirate ships ever assembled. No one survived. My mother... she..."
"Aeka..."
"No, I... want you to understand. My mother went insane with rage. She took our fleet and assaulted the pirates' homebase, destroying them to a man. Afterwards, she fell into a deep depression and withered away right before our eyes. The picture on my desk is the only picture ever taken of all four of us together. Sasami never had the chance to know our parents." Aeka's eyes began to tear at the feelings that the loss of her parents generated.
"I'm sorry." Tenchi offered in condolence.
"When I grew old enough to understand what had truly transpired and who was responsible for it, I swore I would hunt down and eradicate every pirate in the entire galaxy."
"But... Ryoko didn't have anything to do with that."
"Not directly. But she is a pirate."
"She had no choice."
"She most certainly did!" Aeka's eyes flashed with anger. "Like every person alive, she has the ability to choose between right and wrong. Ryoko chose wrong."
Tenchi crossed his arms over his chest.
"How is choosing to die right? What kind of choice was she ever afforded? Who was there to teach her right from wrong? How can you force normal standards of conduct on someone who has never even known what the standards are?"
"Ryoko was given the choice when she was placed with a normal family. You yourself said they seemed like a nice couple. Why would she leave such a place if not by choice?"
"Ryoko told me that Kagusa was going to lose his job, and that if he did they would have to give her back. After what I saw in that folder, I don't blame her for running away."
"But Mister Harada did not lose his job, did he?"
"No." Tenchi reluctantly answered. "He didn't."
"Ryoko was given an opportunity to change. She threw it away."
"She was scared! Can't you see that? Even in the court room, she looked scared!"
Aeka was not truly surprised that Tenchi was beginning to raise his voice. Even the calmest person could be driven to yell when emotions were high. She was trying to keep calm, but Tenchi was getting very passionate in his defense of Ryoko.
"With Miss Ryoko, one never knows what she is truly feeling. It could just be an act to get sympathy with the jury."
Tenchi could feel his patience slipping away. He had tried every rational argument he could think of and Aeka still would not see things his way. He understood the reasons behind her hatred of space-pirates. But it seemed to him that her feelings bordered on the irrational.
"Then why did you bother to come here and dig-up all those facts? Why bother to go through all this trouble if you're just going to let her be killed?"
Tenchi's shouting was really starting to upset Aeka. She did not want him to hate her. But there were issues that she could not simply dismiss in favor of personal debt. The well-being of the people of Jurai had to be her primary concern. Even as she strived to make Tenchi understand her actions, Aeka felt her heart racing to keep up with her thoughts.
"Because I owe her for her assistance, just as you said. I returned to Jurai to make right the horrible treatment she received at the hands of those men, who were using the name and power of their offices for personal gain and pleasure. I even sent proof of it to Miss Ryoko in prison! I wanted her to know what I have done."
Tenchi gritted his teeth. He had no interest in talking about those men. It was Ryoko he wanted to discuss, not that he didn't appreciate what Aeka had done. Exercising great restraint, Tenchi slowly reached out and gently took Aeka by her arms while looking her straight in the eyes.
"Aeka, I agree that those people deserved to be punished for what they did. I'm sure Ryoko would agree, too. But she won't be able to agree with anything if you let her be executed. If you don't free her, she will die. Do you understand that? Dead! Ryoko will be gone forever, and I just can't accept that. Aeka, please. I've never asked you for anything. Not once. You have the power to save Ryoko's life. Please, let her go."
Aeka could not bear the intensity of Tenchi's impassioned plea. She hated to see him beg. Her heart ached to see him begging for anything.
"Tenchi, please don't ask this of me."
"I have to. I..." Tenchi searched desperately for something else he could say to make Aeka understand that he needed Ryoko to live. "Don't you understand how much this means to me?"
Aeka's head snapped up, meeting Tenchi's gaze again.
"Yes! Yes, I understand perfectly well what this means to you! I'm not blind! Neither am I stupid, cold, or ignorant! Any idiot can see that you're in love with her!" Aeka began to squirm in Tenchi's grasp. "Now let me go!"
Tenchi released Aeka, who took a step back and then turned away from him. He had never intended to reveal his feelings to Aeka in such a manner as this. But she had deduced it in her own time. Now that he thought about it, he could see that his actions and words were pretty obvious.
"I'm sorry, Aeka. I... didn't want to say anything. I know how you feel about me, and I didn't want to hurt you like that. You're a sweet and kind person. So I thought I could convince you without saying how I felt. I thought that because of the kind of person you are that you would release Ryoko if I asked. That was selfish of me. I should have been more honest from the beginning."
"Lord Tenchi, if I do as you ask, I will be betraying the trust the people of Jurai have placed in me to guard them and keep them from harm. After signing Royal Warrants on an Arch-Bishop and one of my own ministers, trusted and respected public figures both, I cannot possibly justify releasing one of the most heinous space-pirates in recent history as a personal favor to you. The people of Jurai would lose all faith in the Royal Family."
"I don't believe that. If you explain to them why..."
"No!" Aeka turned back to Tenchi showing him her tears, showing him that she was sincere. "No more! I dare not! Perhaps on your planet people think that way, but in this world, in my world, people live in peace and security only by the virtue of the power of the Royal Family and our willingness to enforce the laws of our society! The Royal Family is the executive authority of the Jurai Empire! We maintain a military force for the purpose of protecting our soveirgnity and maintaining order in a nation that was carved from chaos by the strength of one man! If I free Ryoko, I will be telling the people of Jurai that their welfare is less important than the favor of a single person; the man that I ran-off to live with! The people would --" Aeka's voice cracked in mid sentence, forcing her to take a moment to breath and compose herself. "The people would lose all faith in their government. At the least there would be civil disturbances all across the empire! At worst, they would rise up in open revolution! How would it be right to condemn nearly a trillion men, women, and children just for you?"
Tenchi saw in Aeka's speech the kind of experience that only an active member of government could learn. He had not even considered the far-reaching repercussions of freeing Ryoko. It served to demonstrate just how different he and Aeka truly were. However, Tenchi still felt that what Aeka described was a worst-case scenario. It could work out very differently.
"You don't know that would happen."
"Lord Tenchi!" Aeka was practically yelling now. Her failure to impress on Tenchi her own point of view was making her nearly frantic. "I have considered this matter at great length! I cannot risk it! If it were otherwise, I swear to you I would free Ryoko! Grand Marshall Kuramitsu has officially requested that she be remanded to the Galaxy Police Authority for trial! Daisuke Karatai is one of the best lawyers in the galaxy! I've even had her moved to better quarters! In the name of Tsunami, I've done everything humanly possible to accomodate your wishes! But I cannot pardon her! Do not ask this of me any more, I beg of you!"
Looking at the tears flowing freely down Aeka's face, Tenchi could see that she was just as determined to have her way as he was.
"I see. Then... I guess that's it." Tenchi turned to look at the ship hanging in space on a simple backdrop of canvas. "I think... that the people of Jurai are lucky to have such a strong ruler. Maybe I'm too soft, but I can't accept what you've told me. I can't just let Ryoko die. As much as you believe that everybody hates her and wants to see her executed, I want to see her live. I believe that she deserves another chance, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to give her that chance."
Hearing Tenchi's proclamation of faith in Ryoko, Aeka realized that he really would do anything to keep Ryoko alive even if it meant becoming one of the criminals that she despised so much. Aeka lurched forward, wrapping her arms around him chest without concern for anything except his safety.
"No! Please don't say that! I don't wish for us to be enemies!"
Tenchi gently pried Aeka's arms away from his chest. Turning around, he took her hands in his, holding them tightly.
"I'm sorry, Aeka. But this is the way it has to be."
Aeka took one look into Tenchi's brown eyes and her lips started to quiver.
"Please, no..."
"I'm sorry. But, if it makes you feel any better, I promise not to do anything crazy until after the trial." Tenchi even managed a smile for Aeka's sake. "You never know. She may still get aquitted."
Aeka managed to blurt out a single word before beginning to cry in earnest.
"Ridiculous."
Tenchi was making his way back to his quarters in the west wing when he heard a familiar voice call his name.
"Lord Masaki!"
Tenchi looked over his shoulder and saw Ieyasu Tatsuki hurrying in his direction with two men who looked like Knights of Jurai. As Lord Tatsuki approached, the knights split up, one staying well behind while the other went on ahead. Both of them stayed out of immediate ear-shot. Tenchi stopped to see what the man wanted. Frankly, he felt like he could use a diversion from all the stress of recent days.
"Lord Masaki, I wonder if I might impose on you to do a small favor for me."
Tenchi nearly groaned aloud. A diversion he would have welcomed. But favors were few and far between. Despite his reluctance, Tenchi managed to put on an apologetic face.
"I'd be happy to, but I don't think I'm in any position to help you."
Tenchi's apologetic reluctance seemed to have absolutely no effect on Lord Tatsuki. He went right on as if people refused his favors all the time.
"Ah, but you are. I've recently learned of the existence of my daughter. I find myself quite excited at the prospect. Unfortunately, Princess Aeka feels that I should not know her identity. Likewise, my daughter does not know I am her father. I was hoping you might put in a good word for me."
Upon hearing that this favor required him to impose on his relationship with Aeka, what little was left of it, Tenchi knew for certain that he wasn't the best person for this.
"Well... I think that if Aeka believes that you and your daughter should not know each other, there must be a very good reason. Besides, Aeka and I aren't exactly on very good terms right now."
Finally, Tenchi managed to get something of a reaction out of the middle-aged man. He frowned a bit.
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." Ieyasu paused as he considered the situation. "Normally, I would agree with you, on the first part anyway. As for the second, perhaps I can help you get back in the princess's good graces. In fact, I believe I know what the difficulty is."
Not for a moment did Tenchi believe that this man had any idea what could be bothering him.
"I don't mean to seem ungrateful..."
Ieyasu did not wait for Tenchi to complete his response.
"Let's be honest, shall we? The whole empire knows Princess Aeka ran off to live you, Lord Masaki. Now you return shortly after her and make a scene during an infamous pirate's trial. It's quite a situation you've placed the royal family in. I'm thinking you would like to preserve Ryoko's life."
Tenchi looked around, suddenly feeling very conscious of the way those words smacked of conspiracy. Surprised at the accuracy of Ieyasu's information, but interested in his offer, Tenchi leaned closer.
"What do you know?"
"I know that the princess, as the current monarch of the Holy Empire of Jurai, holds the power of pardon. One would think that if you are close to the princess, you would be able to convince her to pardon Ryoko. Since Ryoko is still in custody, I'm assuming you have been unsuccessful."
"She still has a chance." Tenchi weakly explained.
Captain Tatsuki actually laughed.
"Come, young Tenchi. You don't actually think that that character defense is going to work? Although, I am pleased to see you giving the system a try."
Tenchi felt a spark of anger at Lord Tatsuki's words. Hope was a precious commodity at the moment. Having his crushed didn't feel very good.
"What is it you're trying to say?"
"There is another way to save Ryoko."
Now the man had Tenchi's full and complete attention.
"What?"
"My daughter was born of a woman from the planet Makina. Could you look into it?"
Tenchi pulled back at the sudden change of subject. It only took him a second to realize Ieyasu wanted his help in exchange for the information. It took him even less than a second to agree.
"All right. But --" Tenchi paused as the name of the planet clicked in his mind. He had heard that name before. "Did you say Makina?"
"Yes. Why?"
"I wonder... What can you tell me about your daughter?"
"Not much, I'm afraid, except that she was born about twenty years ago."
Looking at Ieyasu Tatsuki, Tenchi took notice of his hair color. Although there were several streaks of grey, the overall pale blue color was still plainly evident. The coincidence began to seem more like fate.
"You know, I just might know something."
"And...?"
"Ah, well, it's probably just a coincidence. But, if you tell me how to get Ryoko out of trouble, I'll do everything I can to find out about your daughter."
"I knew I could count on you. As for your problem, the solution is quite simple, really. Since Aeka refuses to pardon Ryoko, you must take her place as ruler of Jurai."
"What?" Tenchi almost fell to the floor in shock.
"As Lord Yosho's grandson, you are in a unique position. Even I could not challenge Aeka for the throne and succeed. My father's father was Aeka's father's younger brother."
Tenchi's rather mystified look prompt Ieyasu to simplify things.
"We three share a common great-grandparent."
"Oh, I see."
"To continue, your grandfather was the elder brother of three. When Lord Yosho disappeared, Aeka's grandfather took his place as the Crown Prince. Since Lord Yosho has declined to assume his place as King, it falls to his eldest surviving male descendant. That is you. Lord Tenchi, you have every right to challenge Princess Aeka. If she cares for you as much as it appears, she should decline to fight, clearing the way for you to succeed the throne."
"All right. I think I underststand what you're saying. But what do you mean by fight?"
"Once the challenge is given, the defender of the throne must either prove his or her claim is stronger by fighting to the death, or conceed and allow the challenger to succeed the throne. Which do you think Aeka will prefer?"
Tenchi could not believe what he was hearing. He had no desire to take over as King of Jurai, especially at Aeka's expense. However, if the power of pardon was not specifically Aeka's, but the current ruler's, then he could save Ryoko by taking the throne for himself. But the price could be very steep. Knowing Aeka, Tenchi did not think she would fight against him. At least, he hoped she wouldn't.
"This is so wrong." Tenchi muttered, shaking his head.
"This is life in the Jurai Empire, Tenchi Masaki. Whether you wish it or not, you are a part of this world, and, for the moment, those two girls are at the center of it."
"Thank you, Lord Tatsuki." Tenchi lifted his head to address Ieyasu with more respect. "I've already decided to wait until after the verdict to make a final decision. At least now I have a legal option."
"Oh?" A knowing grin appeared on the royal's face. "Were you considering an illegal one?"
"The thought had crossed my mind. But, I don't think that would make things better."
"It certainly wouldn't. Well, then." Captain Tatsuki stood up, signalling an end to the conversation. "I thank you for your attention, Lord Masaki. You are as accomodating as I have heard."
"I think I should be thanking you. But now that I think about it, I don't really know much about my Jurai heritage."
"I would be happy to assign one of my staff to you if you would like some instruction. It certainly wouldn't hurt to have some knowledge of your rights and powers as a Prince of Jurai."
"I think that would be a good idea."
"I'll see to it immediately. Thank you again for your hospitality in seeing me this evening. I feel certain that I can count on you."
As Ieyasu Tatsuki turned and walked away, Tenchi couldn't help a feeling of forboding from descending over him. He had never really believed in his grandfather's stories about fated encounters and past lives. However, destiny seemed to have chosen him to play a role that he had no desire to accept. But if he refused the role, someone very dear to him would die. So, now he had to choose between his own freedom and another person's life. It wasn't a difficult choice, really. In fact, he had already made it. But would Ryoko still want to be with him after everything was said and done? Then again, maybe it just didn't matter so long as she lived.
END.
AFTERWORD: