Blah blah blah, technicalities and crap.
Fujishima Kosuke owns AMG and its characters. I own Xerangref and Daisen, Kruss, Kyuss and Shantar (previous statements about using all of them stand). Pioneer and whoever created Tenchi Muyo! own all the characters.
A/N: Certain events and plots are hinted and somewhat revealed in this work. If you haven't read at least up to or past volume 19, you may be confused at some points.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to continue this. I have many many ideas in mind, but only one can be used.
I've gone back and edited all my previous chapters, getting rid of obvious mistakes that I found while re-reading them. More editing may come in the future.
Thaylein: Sorry 'bout the grammar, but I confuse myself sometimes when I write (mostly due to not knowing how to write a certain sentence). As for the 'hero' with golden colored eyes, it was either that or silver since no other eye color appealed to my interest. But I wanted the markings to be silver so golden eyes would give somewhat of a nice contrast. And Kyuss and Kruss are different, at least in personality and the way they dress. It was either hair style or eyes that were different, and I like the idea of eyes better :P And as I said before, the 'set' of warrior gods is based off of my little group of friends. We do everything together, so it seemed only natural. You may think it was tied in or referenced to SLL or Haven, but I swear to you that it wasn't intended. It is rather interesting though. Still looking forward to you continuing your works as well.
Happiness' End
End of Chapter 29:
It had been five hours since she gave him a dose of the medicine. Looking at the clock, it was nearing midnight. She hoped it wouldn't take much longer, as it would be a real problem if he was up fairly late.
She went into the temple to grab a quick cup of sake to calm her nerves. After one, she just decided to take the whole bottle and a cup with her outside. She also grabbed a blanket for Tenchi and a pillow to sit on.
As she rounded the corner, she could see that his eyes were open and he was staring out at nothing.
"Did you find out what you needed to?"
Without turning his head, Tenchi gave a curt nod in response.
"So? What do you have to do in order to gain full access to your power?"
Tenchi turned to look at her, his eyes still wide and somewhat unfocused, "I have to choose."
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Chapter 30: Home Sweet Home
"Choose? What the hell do you mean by choose?"
Tenchi sighed and stood slowly, "Back home, I live in the presence of five females; two of which are constantly fighting over me to win my interest."
Urd nodded to show understanding. She'd seen it happen all the time; hell, it was represented in their home when Peorth was around.
"Because of not wanting to hurt anyone, I simply try to leave things as they are. However, it seems I must choose in order to move on and access my true power and potential. It said that I was in a constant state of unbalance and very uneasy. I guess I have to be level headed and hearted as well as at ease in order for things to work."
"Seems logical enough. Denying yourself usually has consequences like that," Urd replied offhandedly.
Tenchi sighed, "I wanted to avoid the situation all along. It seems I should've embraced it instead of running from it."
"Well now you know, Tenchi. Seems to me like you have some heavy thinking to do. Why don't you get some sleep before you start though, it might help."
Tenchi nodded and looked back at Urd, "Thank you, for all that you've done."
Urd grinned, "Oh, I wouldn't say that just yet if I were you."
A look of confusion registered on the young man's face as he looked at her again. She simply laughed and patted him on the shoulder.
"Get some sleep; the kid will most likely be able to send you home soon."
Tenchi nodded, and both figures walked into the temple a shut the door.
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Keiichi had listened to Ryoko's story for most of the night. She seemed glad to have someone to talk to, even if it was temporary.
Her tale was long and rather depressing in some parts as well. He, in turn, told her a bit about his life. She seemed interested in learning that he also lived with several females, with one visiting on occasion. The only difference being, that Keiichi already had someone for him.
Tenchi had yet to choose any of the girls as his companion. Ryoko sighed from her bed in the rafters. She looked down at the couch to see the form of the Keiichi sleeping soundly. He had refused to sleep in Tenchi's room, saying it was an invasion of his privacy. He opted for the couch as a substitute bed instead.
Ryoko looked at him longingly. She had divulged a great amount of personal information to someone she didn't even know, simply because he reminded her of the man she loved. She sighed deeply. If only she could be more open and caring around Tenchi, she might receive better results. In Keiichi's case, it seemed to work brilliantly. He had told her that he enjoyed her story and company, and thanked her for an interesting night before retiring.
Ryoko looked back at the ceiling, still thinking about how she should act in the future. She frowned as she thought about what would happen tomorrow. She would miss the young man who had only arrived earlier that day. She wished that he didn't have to leave so soon.
Keiichi had already had a large impact on Ryoko's life. Even if it was for only a day, his presence and their talk seemed to have a lasting effect on Ryoko.
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Keiichi awoke at roughly 6 am, being accustomed to waking at that specific hour everyday. He turned and looked about, but couldn't see anything. He didn't notice the golden feline eyes of certain cyan haired pirate fixed on him.
The only sign of life Keiichi could make out in the house were sounds coming from the kitchen. He rose from his place on the couch and made his way to the kitchen. As he entered, he was surprised to see Sasami up and preparing the morning meal, usually kids her age would sleep in.
"Can I help with anything?"
Sasami seemed to jump as she turned and noticed him. She smiled and nodded, then proceeded to give him instructions on what he could do to help out.
It was a change in pace for Keiichi, as he usually got ready while Belldandy made breakfast. He sighed mentally as he noted how much he missed Belldandy and her sisters. He was looking forward to the trip home later that day.
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Tenchi had thanked his hostess and excused himself after breakfast to go outside. Urd had figured that it was due to the rather large decision now weighing on his shoulders.
She knew that he didn't like hurting others close to him, that much was obvious. It was another trait, among many, that he shared with Keiichi.
He could avoid the situation altogether, but Urd knew that he wouldn't run from something he deemed worthy of doing. Once he set his mind to something, he was determined to finish it. Another trait of Keiichi's.
Urd looked across the table to Belldandy. It was obvious that she missed Keiichi, as she was looking longingly in the direction Tenchi had gone. She probably saw so much of her beloved in him. It was doing nothing but making her more depressed, which was rather obvious. Belldandy had avoided most social contact with anyone but those in her home. She was also rarely active, her depression taking away her desire and delight in her normal chores or hobbies.
Urd looked towards Skuld's room. She hadn't heard or seen the kid since dinner the previous night. It was now nearing 10 am, which meant that Skuld had pulled an all-nighter and was sleeping, or she was still up and working on current solutions.
Urd shook her head and sighed. Skuld had her bad habit of overworking herself when she was involved in a project. It was something that had seemingly skipped by Belldandy and gone straight to Skuld. Then again, most of the reckless traits Urd had seemed to skip past Belldandy and go to her youngest sister. Even if Belldandy was different, it didn't change the fact that she was family. She had always showed her love and tenderness to both of her sisters, even if they didn't deserve it at times.
Now was Urd's turn to try her hand at being supportive.
"Look, Bell. I know you miss him, but he'll be back soon, just wait and see. Skuld will think of something that'll help, she usually does."
Belldandy looked at her sister gratefully, but Urd could still see the worry in her eyes. Over the past few weeks, Urd had realized just how much Keiichi meant to her sister. He was such a large part of her life that she was lost without him. She had seen just how desperate and lost Belldandy was without the one person that truly mattered to her. Of course she loved her sisters, but they could never replace or hold the value of the love she felt for Keiichi.
Urd looked back at Skuld's room again and muttered, "C'mon kid, I don't know how much longer Belldandy can take it."
Belldandy had been separated from Keiichi from the minute they discovered her recall notice. They hadn't had a chance to talk or be together since. She was sure Belldandy was feeling guilt at her own inability to notice the trap beneath the sleep curse.
Urd just hoped she wouldn't take it out on herself.
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Keiichi was pacing back and forth outside, under the watchful eyes of Ryoko and Sasami.
"Keiichi, just calm down! Washu usually makes her deadlines, even if we don't know it."
Keiichi nodded and continued pacing. He looked at his watch to see that it was 11:30 in the morning. He was anxious to get home, back to his life and Belldandy.
"Listen to Ryoko-neesan, Keiichi-niichan! Washu-neesan usually keeps her promises."
"I ALWAYS keep my promises!" Washu's voice stated from behind all of them. Sasami cringed while Ryoko rolled her eyes and she floated over to the now still figure of Keiichi.
Washu eyed Ryoko as she floated over to the young man. She turned to look at Keiichi, catching the hopeful look on his face.
"Don't worry about it kiddo! Everything's ready to go."
"So when can I leave?" Keiichi asked eagerly.
"Right now if you want," Washu held up a device that looked like a watch crossed with a spiked wrist band.
"Just what the hell is that supposed to be Washu!"
"It's our friend Keiichi's way home, Ryoko. I've already preprogrammed his trip there. A fingerprint on the touchpad screen and a vocal command to take him home will activate it." Washu turned to look at Keiichi, "Tell Tenchi the same thing when you see him, got it? It's also set for a one-way trip back here after the initial transference."
Keiichi nodded, "Thank you. I would like to thank all of you for your kindness and hospitality."
Ryoko and Sasami both smiled and nodded while Washu raised an eyebrow, "Oh, and Keiichi?"
He looked at her while putting on the device, "Yes, Washu-san?"
"Don't keep her waiting too long."
Keiichi looked at her in confusion, before turning a shade of vermillion red. He simply nodded a response and looked at the device on his wrist. He touched his thumb to a strange flat looking surface which gained a rise out of the machine. A strange green light seemed to scan his finger in four directions. He lifted his thumb to see a perfect thumb imprint on the surface, still glowing a greenish color.
He looked and everyone and nodded to them and thanked them again before returning his attention to the strange device.
"Take me home…and to Belldandy."
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Tenchi walked back to the temple after he compiled his thoughts. It had been almost two hours since he departed after eating his breakfast meal with the sisters of the household.
He shook his head and sighed. Even after all that time alone, he still hadn't made any progress at all.
He opened the front door of the temple and closed it just as the wind seemingly kicked up. He removed his shoes and called out for Belldandy, only to hear the call being echoed outside by a louder voice. He heard rapid footsteps and saw the door slam open as a short, young man walked in. He seemed startled at first, but shook his head to clear his thoughts.
"Excuse me, but do you know where Belldandy is?" Tenchi shook his head and stared at the young man as he took off his shoes and ran into the house calling her name. He acted as if he…lived…there…
Tenchi turned to watch as Belldandy emerged from her room to look at the young man. At first, her face showed shock and surprise, gradually being replaced by happiness and relief.
"Keiichi!" Belldandy cried out as she ran to him. She embraced him in a large hug and started crying.
Urd poked her head out of her room to see what the yelling was about to see that Belldandy was embracing a familiar figure while Tenchi stood staring at the entire scene with awe. Belldandy was happily sobbing into Keiichi's shoulder as she hugged him closely to her.
Urd walked down the hall and knocked on Skuld's door and opened it, "Hey kiddo, Keiichi is back."
She didn't receive a response, as Skuld was sound asleep at one of her work tables. She was face deep in a pile of parts and former inventions as Urd walked over and poked her a few times. Skuld only grumbled, but continued to sleep. Urd moved on to the next stage of waking her up as she stuck a finger in her ear and started wiggling it around.
Skuld swatted her hand away and looked wearily at her older sister, "What do you want?"
"Keiichi's back, just thought you might want to know."
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All the occupants of the temple listened as Keiichi described his stay at Tenchi's place of residence.
Tenchi thought it odd that Ryoko had kept his counterpart company while everyone, aside from Washu, seemingly ignored him or left him to his own devices. He even went so far as to call her considerate. Tenchi wondered if he was talking about the same Ryoko he knew, because her normal behavior was nothing like Keiichi was describing.
After getting introduced to each other and even talking for a little while, Keiichi pulled Tenchi aside and gave him the band and instructions on how to use it. He also told him that he had a tough choice to make in some areas, but not in others. Keiichi smiled and patted him on the shoulder as he walked back into the kitchen to talk with his family.
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Tenchi stood outside the temple in a similar situation to what Keiichi had faced earlier that day. He thanked everyone for their hospitality and kindness, much as Keiichi had done as well.
"In the words of Washu, 'Don't keep her waiting too long' Tenchi," Keiichi said with a smile. Tenchi looked at him with confusion, then with a grim and determined face and nodded.
He repeated the same actions Keiichi had earlier, and with a flash of light and a burst of wind, he was gone.
"I still can't believe someone else beat me to transferring people between dimensions! It should be so simple to do!" Skuld ranted in frustration.
"If you'd met her, Skuld, you'd understand. Washu is one regular crackpot nutcase…"
Skuld looked at him, "And I'm not?"
Keiichi smiled, "I would hope not. Not yet at least…"
Skuld stuck her tongue out at him and marched back in the temple; Urd laughed at her reaction and followed her while tossing jaunts at her younger sister.
Keiichi smiled again and shook his head. He then remembered something important he needed to discuss with Belldandy.
With a serious face, he turned to look at her.
"We need to talk…"
A/N: Well well well…30 chapters. Never thought I'd ever make it this far, let alone getting this far with any kind of support. Thanks to all of you who read and review. I'd be writing more, but watching the playoffs and a few late night movies is stunting my progress.