Chapter 8
Ryoko floated back to the house accompanied by Washu on foot. After they entered, they separated; the scientist opening the closet door on her way back to her lab and Ryoko off in search of Tenchi. Thankful for Aeka's apparent absence, she quickly found him in his room, sitting on his bed, his head down; his shoulders slumped.
"Tenchi?" she asked gently.
"Hey," he replied, his voice barely audible.
Her heart went out to her love. She hadn't seen him this dejected since the day his mother passed away when he ran to the cave for solace all those years ago. She could do very little for him then, unable to speak with him or even to touch him. This time however was different.
She immediately vanished and reappeared next to him sitting on the bed. She turned and put both arms gently around his shoulders. He responded by leaning into her and she guided his head to her shoulder, slowly stroking the back of his head as he wrapped his arms around her torso. She felt him sob a few times, but there were no tears.
He then took in a huge breath, held it, and released it unevenly. He did this again and again, with each exhale becoming steadier. She knew he was trying to regain control of his emotions and was making good progress, his breathing returning to normal.
He raised his head, leaning up, but still embracing her and said, "Thank you, Ryoko."
She smiled at him. "You don't have to thank me, my Tenchi. It's what I do; I take care of you."
He returned the smile. "I know," he admitted. It's one of the many reasons I love you. But I still wanted to thank you, just the same."
He warmed her heart, saying the right thing to her without him even realizing it. She simply replied, "You're welcome," and gave him a sweet kiss, which he returned in kind.
Tenchi sat up and took her hand as she released him, his smile fading. "As you can probably tell, my talk with Aeka didn't go so well."
"Well you knew she would be emotional," Ryoko assumed. "She's always had that temper."
Tenchi shook his head. "No that's just it. She didn't do anything. She didn't cry, didn't yell, didn't blow anything up... She just sat there with a serious look on her face, hardly saying a word." He then went into the specifics of the conversation, giving Ryoko the details, from the time they sat down in the study until Aeka's departure.
Wide eyed she remarked, "Wow… I didn't see that coming."
"She hates me now," he surmised. "She blames me and she's right. I made it that much worse by taking too damn long to say something." He let out a huge sigh. "I'm such an idiot."
"Yeah, you are," Ryoko agreed with a wry smile. "But you're my idiot and I wouldn't have it any other way." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Me either," Tenchi said, returning the smile. "What am I going to do Ryoko? How can I make this right?"
She took his hand in both of hers. "I don't think you can Tenchi. You're right. You're not her favorite person right now and I doubt if she would listen to a word you'd say."
"But if nothing changes I know she's going to leave and take Sasami with her back to Jurai," he worried.
"I know. That's why I'm going to talk to her before that happens."
"You're going to talk to her?" Tenchi asked incredulously. "You think that's a good idea?"
She nodded. "I talked with Washu… mom about it and she thinks I have the best chance of getting through to her. And before you say anything she already knows about us Tenchi."
"She does?" he asked her, with a surprised look. Then his expression changed to one of horror and his cheeks reddened. "Does she also know that we...?"
Ryoko didn't reply with anything except a resigned look and pursed lips. Seeing her reaction to his question confirmed his suspicions. His horror gradually disappeared however, to be replaced by severe annoyance.
"When this is all over, you and I are going to have a long discussion with her on the meaning of privacy," he declared firmly. She nodded.
"Won't that be fun?" Ryoko heard through her link.
"Shove it Washu," she shot back.
"What happened to 'mom' ?"
"Listen to me. If you don't turn everything off, right now, and leave us alone, I'm gonna come down there and personally 'redecorate' your lab. You got that… MOM?!"
"So touchy," Washu chuckled in her head. "Fine… have it your way." After a moment Ryoko heard, "There, everything's off. Promise. Happy now?"
"Make sure it stays that way…" At that point Ryoko blocked their link.
She focused back on Tenchi. "Sorry. I was just rudely interrupted and had to take care of it."
"I'm not surprised," he said shaking his head.
"I did get her to promise to stop eavesdropping, at least for now anyway," she informed him. "We'll still need to talk to her later though. She'll listen to you more than she would me." She smiled warmly at him. "You kind of have that effect on all the females in this house."
"I'll never understand why," Tenchi confessed, scratching the back of his head.
"There you go looking all clueless and cute again," she quipped bearing her mischievous grin.
"Stop it," he ordered her slightly laughing. "Now's not the time for that," he said with mock sincerity.
Ryoko nodded with a smirk. "You're right. Sorry."
"Seriously though, back to what we were talking about." Tenchi directed her to their previous topic of conversation. "Are you sure it's a good idea for you to talk to Aeka? Wouldn't she be pretty upset with you too?"
"She's probably quite pissed at me right now, to be honest," she admitted. "I intend to piss her off even more."
"Couldn't that be rather… dangerous?" he asked with deep concern.
"I've never worried about that before, but because of you I'm even more confident dealing with a royally ticked-off princess." She released his hand and held out her arms, palms up, raising her chin, displaying her three gems. "I haven't felt this strong… ever. Even stronger than when I attacked Jurai. I think this is the way I was always supposed to feel; powerful… just without all that psychotic shit that rotting bastard Kagato put into my head. So I think it's pretty safe for me to talk to her, especially since I won't be attacking, just defending until she gets tired. She'll be able to release it all on me, and then she'll be open to listen… at least that's the idea." She smirked.
"I don't like it, not one bit." He held her hand between both of his. "Letting her hit you over and over. It still sounds very risky."
"Hey I'm not all that crazy about the idea myself, but I don't know any other way I can reach her," Ryoko confessed. "Subtle ain't gonna cut it this time."
"Even so you be careful. I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you." He looked into her amber eyes, deep concern along with a touch of fear apparent in his dark brown eyes.
She saw his look and reassured him, "Don't worry my Tenchi. Nothing's going to happen to me. I'm too selfish for that. Now that I have you I'll be damned if I'm going to lose you. Not now. Not ever!" She was the picture of total determination. "But I don't want to lose Aeka or Sasami either. I'm selfish and I don't know how to give up."
Tenchi smiled proudly at her.
"I won't try to talk to her for a while. It'll give her a chance to maybe figure things out on her own. But if she contacts Jurai the clock will be ticking and I'll only have a few days or so after that. Then we'll have to have 'our little talk' whether she's willing or not."
"How will you know when she contacts Jurai?' he asked.
"Washu," Ryoko answered. "Her lab's the only place Aeka can go to call them. I doubt if she's gonna ask me to borrow Ryo-Ohki," she said laden with sarcasm. "So calling Jurai through mom is the only way left to her."
"Washu again,"Tenchi noted. "She always appears to be involved in everything going on here." He shook his head and then looked at Ryoko. "It seems you keep changing how you refer to her; sometimes it's 'mom' other times by her name. How come?"
"It depends on how ticked at her I am at the time," she confessed freely. "She really knows how to push my buttons." After a thought her face brightened. "Look at it this way; if Aeka does blast me to kingdom come, at least I won't have to deal with Washu anymore." Her grin was nearly as wide as her face. "See? There is a silver lining to every dark cloud."
Tenchi just rolled his eyes.
Aeka had been slowly walking back to the house when ahead of her she had seen Ryoko and Washu apparently returning from the onsen. Although she knew that she would have to require the services of the scientist in order to contact Jurai, she was in no mood to face her space pirate daughter. She had told Tenchi that she had not blamed Ryoko for her current predicament, but that had been in the moments after he had broken her heart. Now she felt differently focusing more on her former rival as the cause for all her pain and suffering.
"Without you he would have seen that I was the one he was destined to be with," voicing her thoughts. "He would have loved me. I could have made him happy. Now he's destined for heartache with you. How could he have any other future with you in it? How could you possible make him happy save in the basest way? You don't deserve him, you never have and there's nothing that could ever make you worthy of his love. You will be his ruin."
She had worked her furor up to the point of almost giving into the idea of storming into the house to find the demon woman, drag her outside and thrash her to within an inch of her life. Slowly, however, her rage began to dissipate. She took repetitive deep breaths, her heart rate decreasing with every exhale.
When she had regained her composure she spoke again. "No. I won't resort to acting like the creature you are. I'm better than that. If he's deluded enough to want you it's not my place to correct his misjudgment. He deserves what's in store for him. I…we just won't be here to witness it."
After a period she believed long enough to avoid contact with 'that woman,' she entered the house, changed into her slippers and made her way to the kitchen. She knew that Sasami would be there making lunch for everyone, as she always did at this time. She indeed found her sister, happily busy with the preparation of the meal, Ryo-Ohki half asleep atop her head.
"Sasami, I need to speak with you." Her tone was serious, but it apparently had escaped her sister's notice.
"Okay, what is it Aeka?" she asked, continuing with her preparation, specifically cutting vegetables.
"Sasami I need your full attention for this, it's important," she informed her sibling.
"Is it an emergency? Or is it something that can wait until after lunch?" inquired the younger princess, her face portraying a slight annoyance at the interruption. Ryo-Ohki's head rose as well, observing the elder sister.
Aeka saw the look in her sister's eyes and sighed. "No, it can wait I suppose." She relented, "There's no immediacy to it. We can speak later"
"Good. I really do want to hear what you have to say Aeka. This way, later, I can give you my full attention without any distraction." She gave her older sister an appreciative smile.
"That will be fine as I need to speak with Miss Washu anyway so I'll attend to that instead," she offered and began to turn away.
"Why do you need to speak with Washu?" Sasami inquired, her curiosity now piqued.
"We speak about that as well," Aeka replied cryptically as she walked away without turning, causing her little sister to watch her as she left the room.
"What's that all about?" Sasami wondered aloud.
Ryo-Ohki responded with an equally perplexed "Meyow."
Sasami returned to her previous task, her mood not quite as cheerful as it had been before.
Aeka headed towards the closet door that would take her to Washu's lab in subspace. It wasn't locked and she proceeded straight through. She emerged from the door, triggering the crab shaped door bell. Washu was sitting in front of her across the way, facing opposite, entering commands into her translucent keyboard.
As Aeka approached the scientist spoke; "Hello Princess. Something I can do for ya?"
The princess grimaced. How does she always know? she thought. She probably even knows why I've come, no doubt.
"I'm here for a couple of reasons, Miss Washu," she informed her. "First I want to visit with Ryo-Oh and see how she's doing. Then I wish to speak with you. I have a request to make."
"Fine by me," she answered. "I'm not going anywhere for a while at least. Come talk to me whenever you're ready."
"Thank you Miss Washu." Aeka then turned away toward where Ryo-Oh was planted. She pickup up a small watering can on her way and filled it with pure clean water. She approached Ryo-Oh, still very much a sapling. The young tree greeted her with a display of light, Aeka feeling her happiness as she neared. She knelt in front of her tree.
"Hello to you Ryo-Oh." She said with a smile. "It's always good to see you. Here you go." Aeka sprinkled the tree with pure, fresh water from the can, feeling her companion's appreciation by the gesture. Normally the young tree's needs were automatically supplied by the planter where she rested, but it was always a treat for her when Aeka appeared. "There now," Aeka said, setting down the can and sitting on her legs besides Ryo-Oh.
Aeka's smile faded. "I wanted to tell you that Sasami and I will, most likely, be returning to Jurai soon. Things have… happened here that have caused the need for us to return… home." Her eyes began to fill with tears. "I wanted to reassure you that once we settle back there I will arrange to have you return as well. It might take some time but I will insure that our separation is as short as possible."
The tree responded with a more subdued light pattern than before. Aeka felt her immature tree reach out to her telepathically, apparently only able to clearly send a single word, "Why?"
Somewhat surprised at receiving such a message from her companion, she replied sadly, "Things have not worked out here as I had hoped and I feel the need to depart with Sasami."
"Tenchi." It was a statement and not a question.
"Yes Tenchi. He's in love with another."
"Ryoko." Another statement.
Despite herself Aeka responded with a sad smile. "For someone so young you are very knowledgeable. I can't remain here and be witness to that. It would be too much to bear"
"Sorry."
"Thank you for that," Aeka said appreciatively. "I no longer have any reason to stay here and so Sasami and I must leave, returning to Jurai."
"Incorrect," was the unexpected reply.
Aeka eyebrows furrowed as she looked at her tree, clearly surprised at the response. "Why would you say that? What reason could there possibly be to stay here now?"
"Family."
Not understanding Aeka offered, "But that's why we would be returning to Jurai, to be back with our family; mother, father, Lady Funaho…"
"No." was the single word reply, followed by two more words in quick succession; "Family" and then "Here."
Aeka was taken aback, speechless. She couldn't offer a reply. She simply rose and left, heading back towards Washu.
She found Washu still at her desk, busy with whatever she was doing. "So Princess, did you have a nice visit with Ryo-Oh?"
A thought formed in Aeka's head. "Miss Washu, have you been… interacting with Ryo-Oh? Did you say anything to her?"
"Me?" asked the adolescent appearing scientist. "I hardly ever talk to plants. I find the conversations all rather one sided." She grinned. "Why do you ask?"
A troubled look came upon the princess' face. "We had a conversation, though limited, it was rather… disconcerting."
"She is rather young, but stems from very old and wise roots. Perhaps she didn't like what you had to say," she offered. Aeka showed surprise.
"She cares about you a great deal," Washu continued, 'and knows you better than anyone else I suspect, perhaps even better than you know yourself. I'm positive that she doesn't want you to make bad choices, choices that might seem right currently but in the long run may cause permanent harm, both to you and to those you care about."
Realization hit the princess. "You know…' she began. "You know what I'm going to ask you then don't you?"
"Yes I know," Washu admitted. "I think that you're making a huge mistake though, for both you and Sasami."
The princess was adamant. "So will you help me get in touch with Jurai so that I can arrange transportation or not?" She glared at Washu, fully expecting her to turn her down, to force her to stay.
"Oh I'll help you, don't worry about that," said the petite scientist." It's your decision after all, even if I think it's the wrong one I won't stand in your way."
"Good then," Aeka said after Washu's offer. "You will be helping your daughter too; without me they'll be no one to get in their way, no one to 'rain on their parade' as it were."
Washu floated closer to Aeka, her computer disappearing and looked directly into her eyes. "I won't be doing this because it'll help Ryoko. It won't. You're not in the way as there's no longer a rivalry. You know Tenchi's feelings. I'm sure he made them quite clear. And as for 'raining on their parade', it'll take some time for everyone to adjust to things, yourself included. I truly believe you would too, if you but tried. I think you'd find it to be in your best interest to stay."
Aeka's glare had intensified, having heard little else other than Washu referring to Ryoko. "Obviously your concern centers on your daughter, which is of course, natural, but apparently leaves little room for anyone else."
With her hands on her hips and her head cocked to one side, Washu replied, "Of course my main concern is for Ryoko and her welfare. After all she's gone through she deserves this chance at happiness…and so does he. But just because she's my primary concern does not mean I don't care for each and every member of this household, from Lord Katsuhito to the rest, including you and your sister. I'd miss you both terribly if you were to leave," she admitted, "but as I said before I'll not stop you."
Her computer reappeared and she typed a few commands. "I currently have several system intensive computations running that make contacting Jurai, at the moment, rather dubious. However they should soon finish and communications should be back up early this evening. It'll be at your disposal after dinner. Will that suffice?"
"It will have to do I suppose. Thank you," she said stiffly. She turned and quickly exited through the door.
Washu sighed. She then tried to reach Ryoko through their link still finding it blocked. Impossible girl, she thought with another sigh. Then she went to her tried and true back up plan. "Ryo-Ohki?"
"Yes mother?" Ryo-Ohki replied groggily. Washu could tell that she had been dozing.
Washu smiled, "Be a dear and contact Ryoko for me please. Tell your sister that I have some urgent information for her… about Aeka."
