Forgotten Memories of an Age Past
Chapter 2: Keeping a Heart at Bay
Ryoko watched the boy curiously; she supposed technically he wasn't a boy. Since he was her 'childhood' friend, he was as old as her. She scoffed at the notion—she didn't have a childhood as far as she was concerned. Her life started when Kagato had made her into a demon, or so she thought.
"So, Ryoko this is where you've spent your time after Kagato…I hadn't heard about you in a while." Aeon spoke as if she would be obliged to speak to him.
"Yeah what's it to you?" Ryoko muttered as she slurped up some noodles from her bowl.
Sasami had prepared a bounteous feast for the return of the officers and their new friend. Washu had even bothered to join them, as she was curious to Aeon and Ryoko's interaction. Ryoko didn't know how deeply connected she had been with the boy centuries past, but Washu did and so did Aeon. He would be hurt, Washu knew this, but if he could bring her daughter back it was worth any amount of pain.
Aeon felt the slight annoyance that emanated from Ryoko, but understood that she had no remembrance of the time they shared together. He watched her raucous manner—he was absolutely enthralled at her freedom. It was true he had always admired her for being so brazen while he lacked the necessary elements to be so brass. Ayeka watched the female space pirate with disgust—how could she act like this in front of company… good looking company at that!
"Ryoko you could be a little more pleasant to this young man." Ayeka sneered hoping to gain some approval from the good looking boy; true her heart was set on Tenchi but surely there was no harm in having such a good-looking friend. "Mr. Hawke you mustn't let this monster hurt your feelings."
Ryoko shrugged off the princess' comment; after so many years of the princess' taunting, she had learned how to tune out her shrill voice. No one knew how deep those words cut, but then again no one had dared to even look. Aeon's eyes sharpened with discontent as he heard the word 'monster' spill from Ayeka's lips.
"She is not a monster!" He pounded his fist on the table but soon regretted his outburst. Everyone looked at him with slight fear and he sighed in apology. "I'm sorry, I just wish you would refrain from calling her that…words hurt more than you think they do, princess." He looked at Ayeka with a sincerity that touched her heart. She bowed in embarrassment and continued with her meal.
Ryoko was shocked at the event that had just passed in front of her. Had the princess actually listened to another space pirate; obeyed his commands! And had he just stood up for her; something no one had dared to do before—half because they thought Ryoko was made of stone and because Ayeka hardly ever met resistance from the others.
"So Aeon how's your father?" Washu broke the strange tension that was building as Ryoko examined the silent boy.
"He's being held captive until the black box is returned. I've been trying to break him out for the last 5 years…however I am always left empty-handed." He clenched his fist as he saw his poor father in the dark cell, forced to live like a dog.
"Imprisoned! That's ridiculous…your father was always so…mellow, for lack of a better word." Washu spoke with a certain fondness, Ryoko or the rest of the gang found suspicious. "Vincent was a close colleague of mine very long ago; he helped take care of the kids while I was running labs at the Academy…" Washu chuckled at the memories. "I often regretted leaving Little Ryoko in his care…he was just as bad as the kids."
Aeon smiled, thinking back to all the adventures he had with Ryoko and his dad—there had never been a dull moment. Aeon's glance wandered to Ryoko to see how she was taking in the information. Her golden eyes reflected confusion and distrust. He had seen those eyes before, but only once. He had taken her favorite stuffed animal because he couldn't sleep at night. He had been such a wimpy kid, but when Ryoko was with him he felt stronger and safer. He wanted to sleep with anything that was hers; something that would remind him he wasn't alone. She cried for days because she couldn't find 'Kurin', that's what she had named him. He couldn't take her mopey self and eventually ended up giving her back the raggedy lion, stuffed animal. It was then that she looked at him with a sense of betrayal, her eyes squinting, searching for the lie that was sure to crop up. However back then she only needed his explanation and she understood why he had taken 'Kurin'; she decided they would share him. Now he looked at her with a certain detachment, and there was no understanding in her golden depths.
"So you knew Ryoko when she was a little girl?" Mihoshi was enthralled as she looked from Aeon to Ryoko.
"Yes, we grew up together at the Academy."
"That's so romantic…I wish I had a little boy I had grown up with, and then we would fall in love…and then, we would…we would…" Mihoshi blushed as she thought of marriage and beyond.
"Whoa, whoa now, hello everyone I am right here you know?" Ryoko was getting aggravated at the sudden interest everyone was taking in her connection with this stranger. "Look, no offense to you Aeon; I don't remember you and I'm not sure I like that you know more about my childhood than I do, so would you mind not sharing your stories." Ryoko said this in earnest as she implored him to stop.
"I could help you…remember." Aeon gave her the same earnest look. "Unless you don't want to remember, I understand."
Ryoko bit her lower lip and kept her gaze on her noodles. She wasn't sure if she wanted to remember. She was happy with Tenchi…wasn't she? Wait, was she? Ryoko looked at the people surrounding the table: the princess, the galaxy police, the cook, the scientist and Tenchi (grandfather and father were out at the shrine). They were all there, but she felt separate—she had always felt like she was on the outside looking in. She looked at Aeon and suddenly that feeling vanquished—she was in the same bubble as him, but she loved Tenchi. Everything she had done was for Tenchi; she couldn't just turn back now.
"I need time, to think…" She mumbled in defeat—everything was beginning to twist and turn; change was eminent.
"No problem, I'll be docked for a while." Aeon smiled warmly at Ryoko, but returned to his stoic gaze once he faced the rest of the gang.
"Aeon, you said you were a space pirate right?" Tenchi asked which caused Ayeka to simultaneously choke: she hadn't known that fact.
"That's right…" He looked warily at the princess.
"How did you get into that?" Tenchi asked merely to stir conversation, but feeling as if he were treading on metal spikes.
"I chose to steal from the wealthy and corrupt—they oddly enough go hand in hand very often." He spoke with a calming authority.
"Did your father approve?" Washu smirked, knowing fully well that Dr. Hawke was so carefree he probably had.
"Kind of…I was tired of seeing him beg those bastards for funds. I wanted to support him, so I did."
"That's pretty noble, for a space pirate." Ryoko commented, suddenly interested in his motives. "So I suppose that means you've never gotten your hands dirty."
"This job, it entails sacrifices…some I wish I hadn't made." This was a touchy subject—Ryoko always did know which buttons to push when it came to him. "Ah this was delicious, thank you very much Sasami." He smiled to the young girl, who in turned blush. Tenchi began to notice how the girls were seemingly in a trance over this man.
He wasn't sure if he was relieved or agitated by the fact, but he knew he'd have to figure it out soon. He gazed at Aeon; he was like Ryoko in so many ways. He was quiet and definitely had some kind of shields up, yet he wasn't as damaged.
"Ryoko?" Aeon spoke up as he looked at her empty bowl. "Would you mind coming with me for a walk?" He asked with the same friendliness he had exhibited earlier.
"A walk? Why the hell would I wanna go on a walk?" She looked menacingly over at the boy, yet inside she was hurting at the words she had let out. "It's getting dark out anyways."
"I didn't know you were afraid of the dark." He jested hoping he would rile her up to go out for a walk. "It was just a suggestion; I'll be out there if you'd like to join." He phased away.
Ryoko looked at the spot where he had just been sitting—the gall he had, asking HER to go with HIM…though it did feel kind of nice being singled out. She felt the others gaze burning through her, and growled lightly.
"I need some fresh air." She said as she phased away, a slight smile on her lips.
Tenchi had caught the smile and a knot pulled in his chest again. What was this? He knew she wasn't in any danger, or not the kind of danger he had always tried to keep her away from. Tenchi breathed in deeply, as he realized what he was feeling. He was jealous.
Ryoko looked around as she phased outside and caught site of the boy at the edge of the lake.
"Do you like it here?" Aeon asked as she approached him.
"Better than most places I've been to." Ryoko said honestly; strangely enough she found that she could easily unwind around Aeon. "I like the seasons."
"I haven't been to a planet like this, these trees are beautiful." He pointed to a cherry blossom. "Are you happy?"
"What are you getting at?" She asked with no sense of hostility but true curiosity.
"If you could remember, it'd help." Aeon said curtly, but regretted it as soon as he viewed her brows knit together.
"What's the point, you'll be gone soon enough. I don't need what Kagato took away." She spoke the words with less strength as she neared the end.
"Kagato took your memories?" Aeon turned to look at the girl he had spent his childhood with.
She nodded and looked into the water.
"I don't mind really, I don't think I could live and know I was innocent once."
"I knew it…" Aeon whispered as he took in her sad features. "I knew it couldn't have been you…"
"Have you lost it, or what?" She was confused by his sudden epiphany.
"I didn't know Kagato had taken your memories, I thought you chose to forget… that you chose to kill and destroy, but that's not so, is it?" Aeon searched her eyes for an answer.
"No, the princess got it right: I'm a monster." She let the pain pour out of her gaze. "Sure Kagato was the start, but I started to do it on my own after a while."
"That doesn't mean you chose it; only that you were trained." Aeon put his hand on her shoulder, unsure if this was wise, but some part of him didn't care. "You ARE a good person, we are not our mistakes, you know." He gave her the smile she had only seen him reserve for her.
"You…you don't know me." Ryoko sighed as she felt the warmth course through his hand. "You only know what I used to be. I might scare you now."
"Oh believe me, you scared me plenty back then." Aeon laughed as she looked at him with eyes of disbelief. "You were my only friend and I was yours: we saw the good and the bad, together."
"This is…strange. You know, I love that boy." She looked back towards the house. "I love Tenchi."
Aeon's jaw clenched as she openly admitted this. He had guessed that something other than the beauty of this planet had kept her here.
"He saved me from Kagato; he fought for me."
Aeon remained silent as he watched her admire a boy who was not in their presence.
"Does he love you?" Aeon had to know.
Ryoko paused, flustered that she could not produce an answer. Sure Tenchi loved her to some degree, but he loved everyone to the very same level.
"Does it matter?" She looked at the boy, offended by his lack of grace. "It only takes one to fall in love."
"True…" Aeon's eyes lit up, they had, had this conversation before—long ago. "But it takes two to be in love."
"He'll come to eventually. How could anyone resist this?" She flaunted her body and suddenly Aeon remembered why Ryoko always was the dominant persona.
Aeon shied away and turned scarlet red. Ryoko noticed this and chuckled, he was just like Tenchi—just as innocent and naïve when it came to girls. She had enjoyed this talk; never before had anyone taken the time to hear her out as he did, but that didn't mean her heart had changed. She loved Tenchi and this boy was just a friend.
"I see you haven't changed much…always were the exhibitionist." He looked down as she continued to flaunt her curves. "Once, you came over and convinced me that true freedom was a life without clothes—we were 4."
"Really?" Ryoko's eyes lit up as she listened intently; seeing that Ryoko wanted to hear more, he went on.
"You said 'Awon (you called me that until you turned 5), let's go over there.' You pointed to a conspicuous corner. I followed in silence as I was prone to do, and then you said 'It's not right to be wearing these things', you started taking off your shoes and socks. 'We don't NEED clothes Awon! We can be free!' You said it with such enthusiasm I half believed you, but I still wasn't going to do it."
"So you didn't join in?" Ryoko asked.
"I didn't say that…you had…other ways of getting me to follow. With a short whomp to the head, you got me hopping out of my clothes and flying about starch naked." Aeon laughed. "My father had a laugh about it, but your mother was a bit mad at him for letting us go on the whole day naked."
Ryoko laughed with no restraint, practically rolling on the floor as she imagined the scene play out. Aeon watched her, adoring the very essence that she presented. Then he remembered he had a couple of recordings with him.
"Actually if you don't mind, I have a video of the whole event, would've saved me from telling the story. I just didn't know if you'd want to see it." He took out his device. "Would you?"
"Yeah, that's something worth watching."
He played the halo-video and Ryoko couldn't tear her gaze away from the images. There she was, a little kid and she even had a friend. She couldn't believe it; this whole time she thought that she never had a normal child hood, yet here was this boy who claimed to be a piece of her shattered past. The video ended and Ryoko smiled up at the boy.
"Thanks for sharing that, I would have never known." She was dangerously close to the boy by now.
"You also had another side to you…a softer side." Aeon reminisced as he took in the features of his child hood friend. "Are you up for another story?" Ryoko nodded eagerly. "We attended grade school together at the academy; both you and I were a good two grades above our age—we were that smart." He smiled fondly. "You were always getting into trouble and dragging me along for the ride—I learned to love it. We were in second grade, and we had a hard time making new friends; after a while we decided it was just going to be the two of us. There was a pit of sand, called the 'shape-shifting sands' and we used to go there a lot. We'd play all kinds of games there…but one day the older kids came to join us." Ryoko was lulled in by his voice once more. "For starters, you always told them off and showed them you were smarter than them, and we were practically teacher's pets, so it's safe to say they didn't like us. It was a group of older boys—humans. One called out 'Hey Aeon, are you so wimpy that you can only play make-believe with a girl! Wait she's not even a girl, she's a monster!' That was the first time I had heard someone call you that." His eyes glazed over with rage, but quickly averted back to their calm hue. "I wasn't very confrontational, but at that moment I couldn't hold back. I charged at the three laughing boys and punched away. I wasn't much of a fighter back then, so needless to say I lost. They left me there a little bruised, and you came to me with a bit of a tear in your eye. You were never one to cry, so I started to worry…maybe I had done the wrong thing. I asked you what was wrong, and you said 'you know, they're right…I'm not normal. Mama said I was created differently.' I took your hand in mine and said 'Ryoko that doesn't mean you're a monster. You're my friend.' You looked at me with soft, golden eyes and you smiled. You told me we'd be friends forever and I agreed. Next time those boys came around, we tagged teamed and won." He smirked as his story came to a conclusion.
Ryoko searched his face and found nothing but earnest. He wasn't lying to her and she could feel his connection with her, but that didn't ease all of the fear that had swelled up within. He had the power to change everything, but would she give in.
"Ryoko, I…"He raised his hand to graze her cheek but she pushed it away.
"We should be getting back by now; the others will start to wonder." She said so with a voice devoid of emotion and phased away.
The boy looked at the house she had returned to. He still loved her; after all he had made a promise long ago that he would always love her. So had she, but she didn't remember…how could she? His heart ached as it called out to the smiling, wild flower of his childhood. She was scarred and broken, but so was he—together they could mend each other's wounds, but…she had found someone else. Tenchi: this was his competition. He looked up to the stars. His father was out there somewhere, waiting for him, waiting to be rescued. He looked back at the house and was beginning to feel the pull in two directions.
"Father…what should I do?" He cried up to the heavens and let his mind roam in the star-filled night.
Author's End Note: Brief ending…honestly didn't know how to end it. So what's the verdict on Aeon? Like him, don't like him? Right well I've been in the PCL for over 6 hours now so I think I should stop writing and head back to my apartment XP! Hahah I don't know why, but college has a way of bending time and breaking it altogether.