This is it. The story has built up all to this. The end comes! "Ask not for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee!"
Tenchi ran toward the address that was on his card. He soon found himself tired as he found an alleyway. He felt like a hobo. He could be sleeping in a bed in his apartment or in a touring trailer as Takanori, or in a luxurious bed in the life of luxury with his past wishes. At least the jail had a bed. Tenchi felt even emptier inside as he picked up a large piece of cardboard and lied on the ground behind a dumpster. As he pulled the cardboard over him, he remembered what Washu had said. The thought tickled his mind as he fell to sleep.
Tenchi awoke with a start. He quickly looked at his watch which read: 11:00 a.m. He shook the sleep from his mind and knew he had to speak of this to Ryoko. He had to give her his answer. He knew that by now, the police had found he was gone. Sounds of police filled the surrounding area as Tenchi could barely move for fear police were near. "Let's check down here!" he heard an officer call. He jumped as fast as he could into the dumpster. He snuck to the other side and peered out to see three officers coming down. They walked closer and closer toward the dumpster until…
"Hey, you, get away from there!" one yelled as Tenchi's blood ran cold. The officer kicked a sleeping hobo. "Don't sleep in alleyways! Sober up and if you want a bed, we got one at the jail, but you'll be staying for a while."
Tenchi was relieved as he took a sigh of relief. The man got up and walked away. "Damn hobos! Let's go. Tenchi isn't here!" the officer said as they all left. Tenchi's relaxation was broken as a garbage truck came and scooped up the dumpster and poured it into the back. Oh no! They left for this guy. I'll be crushed! He tried to scramble up, but didn't have time to jump out. He was trapped in the back as the compactor kept coming closer and closer and closer until everything went black. Tenchi was sure now that this must be what death feels like.
But soon, Tenchi shook himself to reality. He was standing idly outside of a warehouse. What? Where am I? He asked to himself as he reached into his pocket. He found a folded up note which read:
Congratulations, Tenchi. You have just officially died. But, in our contract, you can't die. If you did, your soul might get salvation and go to heaven maybe. So, I gave you the advantage of sending you to the "party", but there is another reason you're here. You'll just have to find that out.
Sincerely,
"Ryoko" the devil.
"What does that mean?" Tenchi questioned, but it was soon answered when he saw Nagi and Kiyone patrolling for him. Kiyone saw him and yelled to Nagi, "There he is! Tenchi Masaki, you're under…" but she could say no more as Nagi pulled her gun and began firing at Tenchi without aiming.
"Nagi, what are you doing? He isn't armed. You don't need to kill him!" Kiyone yelled as Tenchi scrambled toward the warehouse entrance.
"See, he's getting away!" Nagi yelled as they ran toward him. Tenchi got through the double doors and threw a nearby broom over the handle. It would stall for only a few seconds. He looked to the wall to his left and saw a door. He opened it to see a flight of stairs. As he began to descend, the door closed.
Nagi tried to open the door, but seeing it was blocked, kicked the door open. She and Nagi entered a dark warehouse, with little lighting, and no doors to be seen.
Tenchi kept descending the stairs as he heard music. He found the stairs ended at a platform. He found at the basement was an out of place office. He entered to find Ryoko. "Oh, have you thought of what to do with your last wish? You know, most of my clients have used their last ones to go out with a bang. I mean, have you ever wondered how Kennedy won the election? That wasn't the mafia, or Owens that killed him, that was me. (Not true, but oh well.)"
"Well, I know what happens to that seventh wish. I won't use it." Tenchi replied.
"I know he's here somewhere, Nagi. Keep your eyes…" Kiyone said with her back to Nagi, but Nagi replied to her by putting her gun to Kiyone's head.
"I'm not here for the sewer rat. I couldn't care less if I tried. This is about me and you." Nagi said. "If I kill you, then I will become a sergeant. You are the only thing in my way."
"Nagi…have you really gotten into such an advent of your job that you'll break the only thing you hold near to you?" Kiyone asked.
"I don't care about police or the law, or even you, my friend. All I care about is me. Now, I'll give you five seconds to make peace with God. Five…" Nagi began saying, but she stopped as she felt three guns on her head. She knew that they were police.
"Nagi, you're under arrest." Kiyone said.
"How could you tell that I wanted to kill you?" asked Nagi being bound with handcuffs.
"Well, all I had was my suspicions, until I had to see what would happen in a situation where you could kill me and pass it off. You see, Tenchi Masaki died an hour ago. He was sleeping in a dumpster and was crushed when he was put in the truck. I had an officer dress like him to lure you in." Kiyone replied as two officers dragged away Nagi. "So, which officer did you use? He was a great look-alike. He almost fooled me."
"Um, Kiyone, we all thought you had hired the guy. We just did our jobs." replied the remaining officer. Kiyone was speechless.
"What?" she yelled.
"What? What do you mean you won't use your seven wishes?" Ryoko sternly asked. "You don't get this, do you? I gave you seven wishes on the terms that once they were all used, I would get your soul. Look, if your going to be in hell, then you might want a friend like me."
"That's the thing. That night that I was in prison, I realized not only my manipulation, but I saw how empty my life was. But even then, a friend helped me out. I learned that you can't just throw away your soul, because it all goes back to the same place. I need to use what I got. All my life, I wanted to be better looking or smarter or charming. I just hoped that someone could wave a magic wand and make it all happen, but it just doesn't work that way." Tenchi replied with a smile on his face.
"Well then, I wanted to slip into something more evil, but I'll have to 'work with what I've got'!" Ryoko yelled as the room around the two disappeared and was replaced with endless fields and pits of fire below them. Tenchi dwindled on a small area of rock as Ryoko took a demonic form over 100 times her normal size. "Now, make your wish, or forever burn in hell!" Ryoko yelled.
"Wait…wait. I have a wish. I wish…that Ayeka could have a happy life. I wished it, so do it already!" Tenchi yelled.
"Ugh…" Ryoko sighed as she knocked Tenchi into the pits of fire as Tenchi yelled in fear.
He landed without noticing it. Above him, he saw stunning architecture in the ceiling painted with various images. "Am I in heaven? Or is this really hell?" Tenchi asked not entirely clear-headed.
"Lord No." said a familiar voice. He looked up to see Ryoko in a business suit and mini mini-skirt. "This is the courthouse. I'm meeting some clients for lunch. Now, get up."
"Wait, but my wishes? I thought I fell into hell." Tenchi asked getting up.
"Hell? No, that's just novelties. Basically the Universal Studios tour of hell." She replied.
"But, the agreement was I get seven wishes and my soul belongs to you and you cast me into the seventh circle of hell, right?" Tenchi asked, but not complaining that he was alive on earth.
"You should have read the contract. Section 14, paragraph 3, sentence four: Acts of Benevolence." She replied. Tenchi was still confused. "Ugh. Basically, if you commit one selfless act with your wishes, our agreement is null and void. And, like your soul coming to me, no time has passed and nobody remembers anything you did with your wishes." Ryoko said.
"But I still don't understand. Who are you even? What is this world and why do I seem to matter…" Tenchi said trying to question reality itself.
"Tenchi," retorted Ryoko. "That thing you said isn't too far off. Take a look. Good and evil, they aren't that separate. What it really comes down to in the end, is you. You don't have to look hard for heaven and hell. They're right here on earth."
Tenchi stood there bedazzled (lol) at what she had said. He thought only for a moment before Ryoko asked, "Now, isn't there someone you wanted to go out with back at the office?"
Tenchi didn't even reply. He was out the door as soon as he remembered it. He had a newfound chance with Ayeka. He just had to have the courage to ask her out.
Tenchi was gasping for breath as he reached his office building. Ayeka was about to leave when he asked her catching his breath, "Ayeka, I'm sorry I'm so blunt, but I want to get to know you better. Would you like to get a cup of coffee or something?"
"Oh, Tenchi, that is sweet of you, but I'm seeing someone already." Ayeka responded. Tenchi was shocked and mortified. His shock didn't last as he calmly responded, "And a lucky man he is to have you, but if anything happens, keep in touch."
"Will do, Tenchi." She replied walking out. Tenchi soon did the same and he began walking home.
As he walked, Ryoko appeared beside him. "What do you want now?" Tenchi asked. "I wasted my time even trying to get her to love me. She was seeing someone the whole time."
"Well, that doesn't mean you don't love her. It just means she isn't that 'one' that you just might find." Ryoko replied.
"But, I gave her up because she was seeing someone else." Tenchi replied solemnly.
"Yep. That's love for you, doing the best for them. Anyway, unless you want seven more wishes, my business with you is done. And no, I wasn't lying. I did like you." Ryoko said as she started floating in the air.
"Well, to be honest, you're the best friend I've ever had. So please don't go." Tenchi said trying to grab her.
"Don't get gushy. I'm the devil. I have a tight schedule to run. Besides, my role with you is done. It's up to the big guy now." Ryoko replied.
"Wait, before you go, what is God like?" Tenchi asked.
"Ugh. They always ask the devil what God is like." Ryoko said.
"Well, most people think you're a demon with horns and a forked tongue. What is the other guy like?" Tenchi asked.
"Well, I might as well say. God isn't some old guy with white hair and a beard. In fact, to contrary belief, he's a young guy. You'll meet him someday. I guess all is not as it seems. It's up to him now. Bye." Ryoko said disappearing.
Tenchi was about to walk up his stairs when he saw a moving van. A woman fumbled down the stairs. Boxes that she was carrying followed. Tenchi rushed and caught her as she landed in one arm. Her skin was as tan as he'd seen before. She looked him in the eyes as he just smiled. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm such a klutz." She said getting to her feet. "Hi, I'm the new neighbor Mihoshi."
Tenchi stood there with a strange feeling. "Oh, it's okay. I'm Tenchi. Did you want me to show you around since you're new here?"
"Um, sure. That'd be great." Mihoshi replied as Tenchi helped her to move in that day.
Time passed, memories were made and lost, and neighborly turned to friendly and progressed to romance. A year had passed and Tenchi had gotten a new job and never thought of Ayeka again. He had someone new in his life. It was a girl named Mihoshi.
He held her close as they walked down through the park. They walked past a woman playing chess with a young, black man. The woman eyed the couple and said, "Ah, young love. It's so great, isn't it? Oh right…" the woman said moving a piece. "Checkmate!"
"What? Ryoko, you cheated, didn't you?" the man asked sternly.
"Hey, you're going to win Armageddon. Can't I at least win a chess game?" Ryoko asked.
Tenchi and Mihoshi continued walking until he stopped. He broke away from her, got on one knee, and opened a red box he had pulled out from his pocket. Inside was a diamond ring. Mihoshi started to cry from happiness and hugged him. His past was gone. The future was ahead of them.
All's well that ends well.
Thank you all. From your reviews, this has become my number one story. Even if I had only 10 readers, I still would have written it all for you. Unfortunately, this story is a pale imitation to the actual movie. Make sure you watch Bedazzled again as soon as you can. Remember, let the good times roll.