Chapter Six
This being a Saturday, Tenchi was already in the field by seven a.m. He pulled several carrots from the soil, then turned it over with the plow and pressed the new seeds into the ground with his fingers. He turned the soil back over, and sprinkled fresh lake water over the newly sown row.
Pull, plant, and water, pull, plant and water. He was just going through the motions, like he had almost every day for nearly a decade. Anything, anything at all, just to take his mind off of her.
He had underestimated her. She was right--he was arrogant. He had completely dismissed the same strength of will that had enabled her to let him go when his family and planet needed him, when he wanted to stay with her, in Yugi's beautiful, cherry blossom-covered lie.
Why had he said such a stupid thing to her? First he had let her think that he would make love to her on the dock, only to let her down at the last minute. Then, in a sneering tone completely unlike the tenderness he had shown since they were reunited, he had dared her to end it. He had taken her for granted, and she had given him exactly what he deserved.
He heard grass underfoot nearby, and felt a rush of hope as he looked up. No, it was only Sasami. He quickly put on his best fake smile. Couldn't let her see him upset; she would ask, and he would be forced to answer. It would be unfair to burden her young mind with his problems.
"Tenchi?" she asked curiously.
"Hi, Sasami," he greeted. "Did you come to help out?"
"No, I just want to talk."
"Sure," he agreed. He sat against his tree, and patted the ground next to him. As she sat, he asked, "What's on your mind?"
"Tenchi, what's wrong? Everyone is acting so strange, it's like they're all mad at each other. I know you and Sakuya had a fight, but what's everyone else upset about?"
"Sasami, I...come here." He held out his arms.
A little puzzled, she obiediently embraced him. "Sasami," he whispered, stroking her hair, "it's worse than you think. Sakuya and I...it's over."
She gasped, pulling back from him, wide-eyed. "You broke up with her?"
Tenchi shook his head. "It was her decision. You see, I said something very mean to her. I didn't mean it, but that doesn't matter now. We both said things we can't take back. I don't deserve her anymore, Sasami. I never did."
"But Tenchi," she pressed, "Ayeka and I are princesses, some people even bow to us. Ayeka likes it, but I think it's kind of silly. Anyway, we've both done worse things than that. If you don't deserve for Sakuya to be your girlfriend, then Ayeka and I don't deserve what we have either. You and Sakuya are in love, you don't have to do anything to deserve each other, Tenchi! That's what love is all about!"
God bless Sasami, Tenchi thought. Barely nine years old in appearance, the sweet, alien little girl was actually well over seven centuries in age, as human beings reckoned time. Because of this, her big rose-pink eyes sparkled with wisdom that rivaled even Tenchi's grandfather.
"I just hope she believes that too," Tenchi replied dejectedly.
"She will," Sasami encouraged, dimples showing now among the freckles on her nose. "Just give it some time. I think maybe you two just need a vacation from each other for a while."
-
Sakuya was doing laundry. Like Tenchi, she went blindly through the comforting procedure, not even noticing or caring that most of the clothing she was washing was already clean.
Noboyuki, on the way to his car to get his briefcase, noticed the house's newest guest alone, kneeling in front of the washbucket. She was scrubbing furiously at something.
He wandered over to her. "Need any help?" he asked.
"Thanks, I'm fine," she replied emotionlessly.
"Say," Noboyuki asked, "have you seen Tenchi? I thought maybe he'd be finished in the field by now, but I can't find him anywhere else. I don't know where he got off to."
"Who cares?" she muttered.
"Mmmm. So I heard," Noboyuki said sagely.
Sakuya had begun to see why Tenchi mostly avoided his father. She personally found the man a little creepy. Of course, it wasn't actually him who had kidnapped her in Tokyo, forcing Tenchi to go through hell to retrieve her. Still, it seemed odd that he would be paying such attention to a girl not even half his age.
"Sakuya, I wish I knew what to tell you." Noboyuki said sadly, sitting next to her. "I mean, heck, I'm not a girl. I went through this too, but when Mihoshi and I broke up a long time ago, it...wasn't like this. There were no hard feelings, it just didn't work out. I couldn't ask her to be a substitute for Achika."
"Tenchi's mother?" Sakuya asked.
He nodded. "She died when Tenchi was little. That's been what, fifteen years ago?" He shook his head. "I'm still trying to get over it."
"I asked Tenchi to marry me!" she blurted, hurling a shirt into the murky water. "He said no."
"What?!" Noboyuki breathed. "The boy can't get enough of you! I would expect him to jump for joy! Hell, you two should be on your honeymoon by now!"
"There's more to it than that," she informed him. "I can't really explain it."
"That's alright," Noboyuki said. "I guess it's really none of my business anyway." With that, he got up and returned to the business of searching for his briefcase.
-
Sasami was in a melancholy mood as she treked her way through the woods, toward home. How terrible for Tenchi, she thought. He had finally gotten Sakuya back, only to lose her again, in a different way. But of course, there was nothing Sasami could truely do, and knowing this only made her sadder. She could encourage him, try to ease the hurt a little, but she could not heal him. Only time could mend the hole in Tenchi's heart.
When she at last emerged from the forest, in front of the house, she fingered her scalp, a puzzled look on her face. There was a strange car in the driveway, a little red two-door. Who was here?
She entered the house, looking down at the floor as she wiped her sandals on the mat. "Kiyone, who's--"
She stopped mid-sentence as she looked up. Sitting with Kiyone and Mihoshi at the kitchen table was a tall, thin blond woman. She wore plain clothing: a pair of blue denim shorts and a white tank-top. Her hair was straight, falling to her hips, but her blue eyes held the same familiar all-knowing glint.
"Yugi!" Sasami shouted, her pink eyes dancing with joy. She trotted forward and threw her arms around the woman's waist.
"Hello, Sasami!" Yugi said fondly as the diminutive princess stepped back.
"What are you doing here?" Sasami asked excitedly.
"Like I said before," Yugi answered, "I thought I would drop in, and see how everyone was doing. If the tension around here is any indication, I would say not so well."
Sasami looked glumly at the floor, and explained what had happened with Tenchi and Sakuya.
"Goodness, what a mess," Yugi said, shaking her head. "Well, this situation will definitely need to be straightened out, and quickly! After all, this kind of defeats the whole purpose of--"
"I've got an idea!" Mihoshi piped up. "Sasami, get some sticks and lighter fluid..."
"Mihoshi," Kiyone warned, "the last time you had an idea involving lighter fluid, we had to replace the front wall of Tenchi's kitchen. Please, no more--"
"Will you hush?" Mihoshi bristled.
Kiyone was actually taken aback. Mihoshi had *never* snapped at her before. Boy, everyone really was acting different since Tenchi came apart.
"No, Kiyone," Sasami said thoughtfully, "I think I know what she means..."
-
Tenchi was in the shrine, still doing miscellaneous chores well after noon. Specifically, he was sweeping the brick floor. He had managed for the time being to put the breakup out of his mind, and was now humming a pleasant tune as he maneuvered the little pile of grit into the dust pan. He was cracked hard on the skull by something, and whirled to see a flash of gray beard and brown oak as the bokken came at him again. He tried to grab it, but it dodged him smartly and caught him a blow to the gut. He danced about madly, dodging and weaving as Kastuhito continued the merciless attack.
"Come on, Grandpa!" Tenchi objected, "I'm not in the mood for this!"
"An enemy would neither be aware of your mood nor care, Tenchi-san" Katsuhito reminded him, without so much as a grunt of exertion. How did the guy do this?
Allowing himself the time for that thought was Tenchi's final mistake, and with a sickening thud, he found himself on his very sore back, on the floor, with the tip of Katsuhito's bokken at his throat. He closed his eyes and gave a sigh of submission.
When he opened his eyes again, his grandfather's hand was extended toward him. Tenchi took it warily; Grandpa was harsh, but surely he wasn't cruel enough to pull that old trick.
He wasn't, and Tenchi was hauled to his feet. Katsuhito shook his head sadly, square spectacles glinting in the sunlight. "Tenchi," he admonished, "if you do not have the patience and presence of mind required to succeed in defending yourself, you will fail in other things as well." He turned, and as he walked out of the shrine he called, "You may consider your chores finished for today."
Tenchi trudged down the steps, and stopped dead in his tracks. Facing him were two people.
"Grandpa, you've got to be kidding me!"
"I have never been one to joke with you, Tenchi." Katsuhito responded calmly. "I present you with your next challenge." With that, he turned and walked away.
Tenchi sighed as he looked at Sakuya, and then at the steps. "What?"
"What do you think?" she riposted smoothly.
"Who cares what I think?" he grumbled, sitting on the steps.
"I came to tell you that you were right, Tenchi. Don't make me change my mind."
He looked up at her. "A little late for apologies, isn't it?" he said wryly.
"Well, you have mine anyway," she stated defiantly. "What you do with it is up to you."
Tenchi watched as she walked away. She stopped, and looked over her shoulder. He saw that she was wearing her first smile since yesterday afternoon. "And Tenchi?"
"Yeah?" He returned her knowing grin.
"If I catch you even looking at another woman, I'll hurt you."
As he watched his girlfriend resume her course, he felt real happiness for the first time that day.
-
The moonless velvet sky was dusted with billions of silvery stars, which were obscured only by the thin wisp of smoke from the roaring campfire.
Yugi, Sasami, Mihoshi and Kiyone, unaware of Katsuhito's success in restoring the resident lovebirds' apparently doomed relationship, had continued their plans unabated. They had soon recruited Ryoko, Washu, and even a very reluctant Ayeka. The men had joined in, and soon everyone but the two targets of their little scheme was aware of the campfire bash that would take place in the woods tonight.
All but two conveiniently placed seats were taken.
Sasami, munching absently on a sweet potato, was beginning to wonder where they were. Tenchi was probably just taking her advice from that morning, doing a little soul-searching. She felt a little frustrated, realizing that her suggestion may have been counterproductive.
"So, Yugi," Kiyone asked, "Where did you get that little Miata? That's a pretty sweet ride!"
"Why, I payed for it up front of course," Yugi chuckled. "The dealer was quite magnanimous about it!"
Ayeka laughed. "I'm sure he was! I did the same with my Lexus, but the handsome young man selling it was obviously quite nervous. A pile a bills in front of him, and a beautiful, flirtatious woman such as myself?" She placed a hand over her bosom in a self-flattering gesture. "I don't think he quite knew what to make of the situation. I was half-afraid he would have me investigated!"
"Whoa, ease off the ego, princess!" Ryoko said, slapping Ayeka lightly on the back. She took a swig from the bottle of sake in her hand. "I could have talked him out of that!"
The comment got a hearty laugh from the younger generation, except for Sasami, who was not particularly partial to dirty jokes.
Ayeka was in the process of preparing a smart retort when she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see none other than Lord Tenchi, striding out of the trees. "Tenchi?" Ryoko asked pensively. "Where's--"
"Back at the house," Tenchi answered as he sat, skewering a sweet potato and holding it over the flames. "I let her be. She just wants to be alone for a while. You guys didn't tell me you were planning a campfire tonight!"
Ryoko, ignoring the latter comment, grunted cynically. "Well, that just kind of ruins the whole thing, doesn't it?"
"I'm sure she'll be along," Yugi said confidently. "Anyone with a nose and an appetite can smell this food for quite a distance!"
As Yugi had predicted, Sakuya appeared a few minutes later, and seeing where the only seat was, shared a knowing smile with Ryoko. She took her place next to Tenchi, and the two ate in silence, waiting for the right moment.
At last, when everyone's attention had drifted away from the troubled couple, only Sasami noticed the them get up and slip quietly away, heading into the woods. She giggled softly, hoping only that Tenchi would come up for air once in a while.
-
Like Sasami thought, Tenchi and Sakuya were alone together. But they were not kissing. Instead, the two were locked in a solemn embrace, communicating without words their unconditional forgiveness for one another.
In his arms, she experienced a flood of memories, about the times they had shared together, both before they were separated two years ago, and after they were reunited.
Tenchi, standing in the middle of the living room floor, gazing in wordless shock at her, for the first time in two years.
Tenchi, staring at her nude body, which she had never really been comfortable with, and seconds later holding her against him, his hands and mouth giving her a forbidden joy the like of which she had never known in her life.
Tenchi, cackling hysterically at her as she retreated from a blazing stack of onion rings.
Tenchi, bare-chested and bleary-eyed, his strong arms locked around her as she regained her breath after the unholy violence of morning sickness, not even caring that she was covered in sticky sweat, that her breath reeked of hydrochloric acid and half-digested food.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by warm lips on hers, and as she kissed him back, she realized something that made her heart soar with hope. They were kissing, more deeply now, tongues dancing back and forth. And despite the warm, delightfully naughty feeling of arousal uncurling in her stomach, she had not the slightest desire to have sex with him. For the first time since that night in his bed, she was totally in control of her own body and mind.
Oh, she wouldn't have minded taking it farther, having him right there in the woods. But she knew he would not allow it until he could walk her down the steps of the shrine, in beautiful bridal adornment, in a *real* cherry- blossom paradise, the white petals decorating her hair. Furthermore, she found she was just as satsified with this. Making out with him like this provided a feeling of intimacy that somehow spoke volumes more than lovemaking ever could.
This being a Saturday, Tenchi was already in the field by seven a.m. He pulled several carrots from the soil, then turned it over with the plow and pressed the new seeds into the ground with his fingers. He turned the soil back over, and sprinkled fresh lake water over the newly sown row.
Pull, plant, and water, pull, plant and water. He was just going through the motions, like he had almost every day for nearly a decade. Anything, anything at all, just to take his mind off of her.
He had underestimated her. She was right--he was arrogant. He had completely dismissed the same strength of will that had enabled her to let him go when his family and planet needed him, when he wanted to stay with her, in Yugi's beautiful, cherry blossom-covered lie.
Why had he said such a stupid thing to her? First he had let her think that he would make love to her on the dock, only to let her down at the last minute. Then, in a sneering tone completely unlike the tenderness he had shown since they were reunited, he had dared her to end it. He had taken her for granted, and she had given him exactly what he deserved.
He heard grass underfoot nearby, and felt a rush of hope as he looked up. No, it was only Sasami. He quickly put on his best fake smile. Couldn't let her see him upset; she would ask, and he would be forced to answer. It would be unfair to burden her young mind with his problems.
"Tenchi?" she asked curiously.
"Hi, Sasami," he greeted. "Did you come to help out?"
"No, I just want to talk."
"Sure," he agreed. He sat against his tree, and patted the ground next to him. As she sat, he asked, "What's on your mind?"
"Tenchi, what's wrong? Everyone is acting so strange, it's like they're all mad at each other. I know you and Sakuya had a fight, but what's everyone else upset about?"
"Sasami, I...come here." He held out his arms.
A little puzzled, she obiediently embraced him. "Sasami," he whispered, stroking her hair, "it's worse than you think. Sakuya and I...it's over."
She gasped, pulling back from him, wide-eyed. "You broke up with her?"
Tenchi shook his head. "It was her decision. You see, I said something very mean to her. I didn't mean it, but that doesn't matter now. We both said things we can't take back. I don't deserve her anymore, Sasami. I never did."
"But Tenchi," she pressed, "Ayeka and I are princesses, some people even bow to us. Ayeka likes it, but I think it's kind of silly. Anyway, we've both done worse things than that. If you don't deserve for Sakuya to be your girlfriend, then Ayeka and I don't deserve what we have either. You and Sakuya are in love, you don't have to do anything to deserve each other, Tenchi! That's what love is all about!"
God bless Sasami, Tenchi thought. Barely nine years old in appearance, the sweet, alien little girl was actually well over seven centuries in age, as human beings reckoned time. Because of this, her big rose-pink eyes sparkled with wisdom that rivaled even Tenchi's grandfather.
"I just hope she believes that too," Tenchi replied dejectedly.
"She will," Sasami encouraged, dimples showing now among the freckles on her nose. "Just give it some time. I think maybe you two just need a vacation from each other for a while."
-
Sakuya was doing laundry. Like Tenchi, she went blindly through the comforting procedure, not even noticing or caring that most of the clothing she was washing was already clean.
Noboyuki, on the way to his car to get his briefcase, noticed the house's newest guest alone, kneeling in front of the washbucket. She was scrubbing furiously at something.
He wandered over to her. "Need any help?" he asked.
"Thanks, I'm fine," she replied emotionlessly.
"Say," Noboyuki asked, "have you seen Tenchi? I thought maybe he'd be finished in the field by now, but I can't find him anywhere else. I don't know where he got off to."
"Who cares?" she muttered.
"Mmmm. So I heard," Noboyuki said sagely.
Sakuya had begun to see why Tenchi mostly avoided his father. She personally found the man a little creepy. Of course, it wasn't actually him who had kidnapped her in Tokyo, forcing Tenchi to go through hell to retrieve her. Still, it seemed odd that he would be paying such attention to a girl not even half his age.
"Sakuya, I wish I knew what to tell you." Noboyuki said sadly, sitting next to her. "I mean, heck, I'm not a girl. I went through this too, but when Mihoshi and I broke up a long time ago, it...wasn't like this. There were no hard feelings, it just didn't work out. I couldn't ask her to be a substitute for Achika."
"Tenchi's mother?" Sakuya asked.
He nodded. "She died when Tenchi was little. That's been what, fifteen years ago?" He shook his head. "I'm still trying to get over it."
"I asked Tenchi to marry me!" she blurted, hurling a shirt into the murky water. "He said no."
"What?!" Noboyuki breathed. "The boy can't get enough of you! I would expect him to jump for joy! Hell, you two should be on your honeymoon by now!"
"There's more to it than that," she informed him. "I can't really explain it."
"That's alright," Noboyuki said. "I guess it's really none of my business anyway." With that, he got up and returned to the business of searching for his briefcase.
-
Sasami was in a melancholy mood as she treked her way through the woods, toward home. How terrible for Tenchi, she thought. He had finally gotten Sakuya back, only to lose her again, in a different way. But of course, there was nothing Sasami could truely do, and knowing this only made her sadder. She could encourage him, try to ease the hurt a little, but she could not heal him. Only time could mend the hole in Tenchi's heart.
When she at last emerged from the forest, in front of the house, she fingered her scalp, a puzzled look on her face. There was a strange car in the driveway, a little red two-door. Who was here?
She entered the house, looking down at the floor as she wiped her sandals on the mat. "Kiyone, who's--"
She stopped mid-sentence as she looked up. Sitting with Kiyone and Mihoshi at the kitchen table was a tall, thin blond woman. She wore plain clothing: a pair of blue denim shorts and a white tank-top. Her hair was straight, falling to her hips, but her blue eyes held the same familiar all-knowing glint.
"Yugi!" Sasami shouted, her pink eyes dancing with joy. She trotted forward and threw her arms around the woman's waist.
"Hello, Sasami!" Yugi said fondly as the diminutive princess stepped back.
"What are you doing here?" Sasami asked excitedly.
"Like I said before," Yugi answered, "I thought I would drop in, and see how everyone was doing. If the tension around here is any indication, I would say not so well."
Sasami looked glumly at the floor, and explained what had happened with Tenchi and Sakuya.
"Goodness, what a mess," Yugi said, shaking her head. "Well, this situation will definitely need to be straightened out, and quickly! After all, this kind of defeats the whole purpose of--"
"I've got an idea!" Mihoshi piped up. "Sasami, get some sticks and lighter fluid..."
"Mihoshi," Kiyone warned, "the last time you had an idea involving lighter fluid, we had to replace the front wall of Tenchi's kitchen. Please, no more--"
"Will you hush?" Mihoshi bristled.
Kiyone was actually taken aback. Mihoshi had *never* snapped at her before. Boy, everyone really was acting different since Tenchi came apart.
"No, Kiyone," Sasami said thoughtfully, "I think I know what she means..."
-
Tenchi was in the shrine, still doing miscellaneous chores well after noon. Specifically, he was sweeping the brick floor. He had managed for the time being to put the breakup out of his mind, and was now humming a pleasant tune as he maneuvered the little pile of grit into the dust pan. He was cracked hard on the skull by something, and whirled to see a flash of gray beard and brown oak as the bokken came at him again. He tried to grab it, but it dodged him smartly and caught him a blow to the gut. He danced about madly, dodging and weaving as Kastuhito continued the merciless attack.
"Come on, Grandpa!" Tenchi objected, "I'm not in the mood for this!"
"An enemy would neither be aware of your mood nor care, Tenchi-san" Katsuhito reminded him, without so much as a grunt of exertion. How did the guy do this?
Allowing himself the time for that thought was Tenchi's final mistake, and with a sickening thud, he found himself on his very sore back, on the floor, with the tip of Katsuhito's bokken at his throat. He closed his eyes and gave a sigh of submission.
When he opened his eyes again, his grandfather's hand was extended toward him. Tenchi took it warily; Grandpa was harsh, but surely he wasn't cruel enough to pull that old trick.
He wasn't, and Tenchi was hauled to his feet. Katsuhito shook his head sadly, square spectacles glinting in the sunlight. "Tenchi," he admonished, "if you do not have the patience and presence of mind required to succeed in defending yourself, you will fail in other things as well." He turned, and as he walked out of the shrine he called, "You may consider your chores finished for today."
Tenchi trudged down the steps, and stopped dead in his tracks. Facing him were two people.
"Grandpa, you've got to be kidding me!"
"I have never been one to joke with you, Tenchi." Katsuhito responded calmly. "I present you with your next challenge." With that, he turned and walked away.
Tenchi sighed as he looked at Sakuya, and then at the steps. "What?"
"What do you think?" she riposted smoothly.
"Who cares what I think?" he grumbled, sitting on the steps.
"I came to tell you that you were right, Tenchi. Don't make me change my mind."
He looked up at her. "A little late for apologies, isn't it?" he said wryly.
"Well, you have mine anyway," she stated defiantly. "What you do with it is up to you."
Tenchi watched as she walked away. She stopped, and looked over her shoulder. He saw that she was wearing her first smile since yesterday afternoon. "And Tenchi?"
"Yeah?" He returned her knowing grin.
"If I catch you even looking at another woman, I'll hurt you."
As he watched his girlfriend resume her course, he felt real happiness for the first time that day.
-
The moonless velvet sky was dusted with billions of silvery stars, which were obscured only by the thin wisp of smoke from the roaring campfire.
Yugi, Sasami, Mihoshi and Kiyone, unaware of Katsuhito's success in restoring the resident lovebirds' apparently doomed relationship, had continued their plans unabated. They had soon recruited Ryoko, Washu, and even a very reluctant Ayeka. The men had joined in, and soon everyone but the two targets of their little scheme was aware of the campfire bash that would take place in the woods tonight.
All but two conveiniently placed seats were taken.
Sasami, munching absently on a sweet potato, was beginning to wonder where they were. Tenchi was probably just taking her advice from that morning, doing a little soul-searching. She felt a little frustrated, realizing that her suggestion may have been counterproductive.
"So, Yugi," Kiyone asked, "Where did you get that little Miata? That's a pretty sweet ride!"
"Why, I payed for it up front of course," Yugi chuckled. "The dealer was quite magnanimous about it!"
Ayeka laughed. "I'm sure he was! I did the same with my Lexus, but the handsome young man selling it was obviously quite nervous. A pile a bills in front of him, and a beautiful, flirtatious woman such as myself?" She placed a hand over her bosom in a self-flattering gesture. "I don't think he quite knew what to make of the situation. I was half-afraid he would have me investigated!"
"Whoa, ease off the ego, princess!" Ryoko said, slapping Ayeka lightly on the back. She took a swig from the bottle of sake in her hand. "I could have talked him out of that!"
The comment got a hearty laugh from the younger generation, except for Sasami, who was not particularly partial to dirty jokes.
Ayeka was in the process of preparing a smart retort when she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see none other than Lord Tenchi, striding out of the trees. "Tenchi?" Ryoko asked pensively. "Where's--"
"Back at the house," Tenchi answered as he sat, skewering a sweet potato and holding it over the flames. "I let her be. She just wants to be alone for a while. You guys didn't tell me you were planning a campfire tonight!"
Ryoko, ignoring the latter comment, grunted cynically. "Well, that just kind of ruins the whole thing, doesn't it?"
"I'm sure she'll be along," Yugi said confidently. "Anyone with a nose and an appetite can smell this food for quite a distance!"
As Yugi had predicted, Sakuya appeared a few minutes later, and seeing where the only seat was, shared a knowing smile with Ryoko. She took her place next to Tenchi, and the two ate in silence, waiting for the right moment.
At last, when everyone's attention had drifted away from the troubled couple, only Sasami noticed the them get up and slip quietly away, heading into the woods. She giggled softly, hoping only that Tenchi would come up for air once in a while.
-
Like Sasami thought, Tenchi and Sakuya were alone together. But they were not kissing. Instead, the two were locked in a solemn embrace, communicating without words their unconditional forgiveness for one another.
In his arms, she experienced a flood of memories, about the times they had shared together, both before they were separated two years ago, and after they were reunited.
Tenchi, standing in the middle of the living room floor, gazing in wordless shock at her, for the first time in two years.
Tenchi, staring at her nude body, which she had never really been comfortable with, and seconds later holding her against him, his hands and mouth giving her a forbidden joy the like of which she had never known in her life.
Tenchi, cackling hysterically at her as she retreated from a blazing stack of onion rings.
Tenchi, bare-chested and bleary-eyed, his strong arms locked around her as she regained her breath after the unholy violence of morning sickness, not even caring that she was covered in sticky sweat, that her breath reeked of hydrochloric acid and half-digested food.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by warm lips on hers, and as she kissed him back, she realized something that made her heart soar with hope. They were kissing, more deeply now, tongues dancing back and forth. And despite the warm, delightfully naughty feeling of arousal uncurling in her stomach, she had not the slightest desire to have sex with him. For the first time since that night in his bed, she was totally in control of her own body and mind.
Oh, she wouldn't have minded taking it farther, having him right there in the woods. But she knew he would not allow it until he could walk her down the steps of the shrine, in beautiful bridal adornment, in a *real* cherry- blossom paradise, the white petals decorating her hair. Furthermore, she found she was just as satsified with this. Making out with him like this provided a feeling of intimacy that somehow spoke volumes more than lovemaking ever could.
