Chapter 10
When Sasami had returned from upstairs, she had silently gone straight into the kitchen without pause. Everyone remaining at the table, at first, gazed worriedly at the young princess and then looked to each other. Now that lunch had ended, Sasami was focusing on cleanup. Mihoshi, Washu and even Ryoko had quietly joined her in the task. Katsuhito had left for the training ground after reminding his grandson of their need for the day's practice. After quickly donning his training gear, Tenchi soon followed.
The early afternoon was still cold, but the sun was warm, shining in the clear blue sky. When Tenchi arrived at the practice area, he found his grandfather awaiting him, also dressed for training, holding two pristine bokken. Katsuhito handed one of the weapons to his grandson who then stepped back swinging it, testing its balance.
Tenchi stopped swinging the weapon and looked respectfully at his mentor. "Grandpa?" he asked. "I wanted to thank you for what you said at lunch today, about Ryoko and me. I think I really needed to hear that and I know she appreciated it too."
Lord Katsuhito smiled at his apprentice. "I have no problem in telling the truth, Tenchi, especially if I feel it may benefit those close to me." He looked directly into his grandson's eyes. "It's easy for all to see how much the two of you care for one another."
Tenchi smiled. "She means everything to me Grandpa. I couldn't go another day without telling her that. She's very special."
"She is a lovely young woman with many fine qualities," Katsuhito agreed. "She's one of the bravest people I've ever met, who commits herself wholeheartedly to whatever endeavor she attempts. She's fiercely loyal, has a huge heart, even if she tends to hide it, and, of which I'm sure that you were already aware, is thoroughly devoted to you."
"I feel the same way about her," Tenchi said in all sincerity. He then took on a wry smile, "She can also be brash, loud, chaotic, emotional, just plain nuts, and, at times… quite forward." His last comment generated a blush.
"All parts of her many charms, no doubt," Katsuhito chuckled.
"No doubt, Tenchi agreed, his expression quite happy at their mutual insight to his girlfriend's character.
"Tenchi," his grandfather said with a warm smile. "I truly feel that it is your destiny for the two of you to have a long, eventful, and happy life together."
"Destiny…" Tenchi said smiling. He examined the word for a moment, repeating it out loud,"… destiny." He then had a thought; something that he had never quite considered now triggered by the word. "Hmmm," he mumbled his expression changing to unexpected curiosity.
"Grandpa?" Tenchi asked quizzically. "Did you have something to do with our destiny?"
"Lord Katsuhito's raised an eyebrow, returning a curious and, at the same time, knowing smile.
Tenchi, feeling that he was on the verge of a great discovery, asked bluntly; "Did you plan on this happening Grandpa, for Ryoko and me to be together?"
His grandfather switched his bokken to his off-hand, walked up to Tenchi and held out the other. His grandson relinquished his weapon to his sensei, who, in turn, said, "It appears that there will be no practice today." He slowly turned around and moving away said, "Please join me for some tea."
Tenchi's eyes gleamed with the impending revelation saying, under his breath, "I knew it!" He quickly caught up with his grandfather and headed towards the shrine steps.
His sensei remained silent as they traversed the stairs to the shrine. After reaching the top, they continued to the office, Katsuhito entering first, with Tenchi following, closing the door behind them and then moving to stand next to the table. With no minimal effort, he waited as patiently as his grandfather set aside the bokken and proceeded to prepare the tea. Once it was prepared, he joined Tenchi at the table. They sat on opposite sides and the elder Masaki poured the tea.
Ignoring his cup for the moment, Tenchi asked expectantly, "Grandpa?"
Katsuhito took a sip and then replied, "It was not my intention for you and Ryoko to become romantically involved, nor, at the same time, was it unwanted." He took another sip. "I am very happy for you both and as such, you two have my full blessing." His smile was warm and genuine.
Tenchi, though extremely happy with his grandfather's statement, wanted to hear it all. "If that was not you intention, Grandpa, then what was it?"
"Simply for you to free her from her imprisonment," he replied and then took another sip.
Tenchi showed confusion. "But you could have done that at any time. Why did it have to be me?"
Katsuhito focused on gaze on his student. "Because I could not. I was the one who had imprisoned her and I felt that she would only see me as such. I believed if I was the one to free her, then her anger towards me would emerge and her long imprisonment would have been for naught."
He paused, his mind returning to their conflict over seven centuries prior. "Our battle had been fierce, almost desperate; blow and counterblow, attack and defense, on and on it raged, all the while Funaho and Rho-Ohki fought above our heads. At times I wondered if I would prevail; she was quite formidable; extremely powerful, her eyes aglow with an eerie red fire. I knew that if I hesitated even once… well we would not now be talking."
He gave his grandson a slight smile. "I was fortunately victorious. As I took the last gem from her into Tenchi-ken's hilt, she fell to her knees. I approached her intending to finish the battle when she looked up at me. I was startled by what I then saw in her eyes; they had lost their red fire and for the first time I saw the golden eyes with which we are all now so familiar. Those held fear and confusion. But what stayed my hand, causing me to finally hesitate where I hadn't before, were the other emotions I saw; ones that I had never expected to see from the Demon Space Pirate Ryoko: sorrow and most surprising to me, relief." He paused, engrossed in the vivid memory taking another sip of his tea. "I stood there, my weapon lowered, staring down at her, attempting to comprehend what I was seeing. Her fear and confusion I simply equated to her losing the battle and the expectation of her fate. But the other emotions, I could not understand from where they emanated. I stared silently at her as she wept, seemingly from her very soul. She then collapsed upon the ground, eventually succumbing to her physical and emotional strain, falling unconscious."
He looked at his grandson, feeling the boy's empathic heartache for his beloved. He knew that Tenchi was hurting for what Ryoko had been through but he remained quiet, just the same.
"As I looked upon her I realized I no longer saw the heartless destroyer, the infamous pirate who single-handedly swept aside the mighty defenses of Jurai; what I saw was a wounded, vulnerable, and now helpless girl, not quite yet a woman lying before me. Her defeat had changed her and I finally understood why; it hadn't been her at all. She had been made to act against her will. That's why she had felt sorrow and relief; sorrow for all the damage she had caused, all the lives she had taken. And ultimately relief as the control was broken; the control inflicted upon her by her dreaded master, Kagato. Somehow he had been able control her through the gems. With them gone she had finally been set free. Free but evidently still very much damaged by her abuse."
He drained his cup in a final sip. Tenchi stayed quiet, knowing there was more.
"I knew I couldn't destroy her, being an innocent in all this, but I also knew that I couldn't just let her go. If he found her he would come for her and once again take control and she would return to that living hell... I could not leave the earth as the two ships had literally blown each other from the sky. There was only one option left to me; to hide her away, to keep her safe from the him and the outside world and to keep the outside world safe from her should he find her again. It would also give her the time I thought would allow her to heal from the trauma she had endured. So I found the cave and placed her safely inside, Tenchi-ken guarding her as she slept."
Tenchi looked down at his untouched teacup, considering all he had heard in the last few minutes. He then looked up at his mentor and asked, "How did you know when it would be time to release her from the cave, Grandpa?"
Katsuhito smiled answering, "I didn't. Not until after you were born. Then I knew it was time. I knew that you would be the one to set her free… when you were ready."
"But why me Grandpa?" Tenchi asked. "How did you know it was time to free her because of me?
His sensei set down his empty cup and answered his grandson, "Because of your inner power and your connection with Ryoko." He picked up the teapot and refilled his cup. Glancing at Tenchi's cup he saw that it was still full. He smiled slightly as he set the teapot down.
"When you were born we sensed your power potential. It was very strong and hard to ignore." He took a new sip of his cup.
"We?" asked Tenchi.
"Your mother and I," he answered. "She was quite powerful in her own right, physically strong, but never sought to formally foster it beyond that. It did enable her to easily sense yours. She agreed with me, that I should help you to develop it when you were old enough to begin your training. She too agreed that you should be the one to free Ryoko. Although she would never see you tap into your inner strengths she believed that you would do so eventually. I reasoned that you would be physically ready to release her when you would finally be able to take the keys from me." He smile became broad.
"So that IS why you told me it was forbidden and dangerous so many times. You knew that my curiosity would eventually drive me into that cave. You counted on it." Then he looked upon his grandfather with full understanding, giving him a crooked smile, shaking his head. "I think you missed your calling Grandpa. You would have made an excellent con man," he said with mild sarcasm.
His companion tilted his head slightly and inquired, smiling; "Think so eh?" He let out a small chuckle.
Tenchi shook his head again returning his own chuckle. Looking up again at his grandfather he asked; "You said that the other reason that I was the one to free her was because of my connection with her. What did you mean?"
Katsuhito took another sip from his cup. "After some time in the cave Ryoko found a way to project her astral self from its confines, to the immediate area outside. Many a time I spied her out there, just sitting looking at the world around her in the daylight or lying atop the rock, watching the stars at night. Her expression however was never a happy one. I knew she was sad and lonely but I also knew that I could do nothing for her." He smiled down at his grandson. "That changed with you."
He saw by Tenchi's expression, that his grandson was not surprised by this. Curious, he thought. He went on. "Soon after you were born, your mother took you down to the entrance of the cave. As she too could see Ryoko in her astral form, she was curious to see her reaction. And…"
"I saw her," Tenchi said finishing his grandfather's sentence. "Mother was carrying me on her back. This sad beautiful lady was standing there looking at me. I reached out to her and surprised her. The expression on her face changed. It might not have made her happy, but she stopped being sad." He smiled at his grandfather. "I remembered this last night. I even told Ryoko about it, not long after we had our talk. I just can't figure out how I'm able to remember it now when I never have before."
"Interesting," said his grandfather, thinking about it for a few moments, coming to a conclusion. "I believe it is because of how far your power has progressed. Having the ability to deny a black hole, it would stand to reason that unlocking such a memory would be of little effort, especially one of such recent importance to you; like how the Light Hawk Wings manifest themselves. Although not a life or death situation you remembered it because you needed to."
"That makes sense," Tenchi agreed.
"Yes." Katsuhito then gave his grandson a mischievous look. "Now before I was interrupted, I believe that I was trying to make a point."
His grandson looked up at him sheepishly. "Sorry, Grandpa."
"Hmm," he acknowledged. "Well, as you visited her more and more as time went on she did seem happier; I am sure you brought many smiles to her face. I witnessed quite a few of them myself. And you no doubt eased her loneliness as well. So naturally, when it came time, it would be only right for you to be the one to free her."
"I think I understand now Grandpa." He stood up looking at his grandparent with deep respect and affection. "Thank you for what you did for her… for both of us."
"It was the right thing to do. There was no other choice." He stood up as well and they walked together to the door. "If you have no other questions, I am sure there is somewhere else you would rather be, someone else you would rather be with." He smiled knowingly.
Tenchi nodded. He opened the door and stepped outside.
Katsuhito stood in the door way. "Well then, I imagine I will see you at dinner."
"Bye, Grandpa," said his grandson who then disappeared down the steps.
Katsuhito smiled.
"I thought I had another visitor," he said turning his head to the left seeing the small redhead leaning against the side of the building.
"You do indeed," she confirmed.
He grinned. "Care for some tea?"
"Don't mind if I do," she said jauntily.
He stepped back from the doorway allowing the diminutive scientist entry. She crossed the room and placed herself formerly occupied by his grandson. "Looks like you had him so enthralled that he never even touched his tea," she said looking down at the teacup in front of her. "No need to dirty another one then," she said taking a couple of sips. "Could stand to be warmed up a bit though." She held the cup out to him as he refilled it with hot tea. She took another sip, "Mmmm… that's better."
She looked up at her host. "You didn't tell him did you?
"Tell him?" he asked innocently. Washu wasn't buying it however.
"You know very well what I mean Lord Katsuhito," she gently chastised. "The gems. You didn't tell him about Ryoko's gems."
"Oh those," he said. He then gave a chuckle then looked at her with a reserved smile. "No. No I did not."
Washu shook her head. "He'd understand. They both would."
"I know they would."
"You would only need one. She'd give it to you if you asked."
"I know that too," he told her. "But I will never ask it of her, nor would I accept it if it were offered to me. They belong to her. I have stolen from them for far too long. I could justify it when she was still imprisoned in the cave and to a lesser extent while Kagato was still a threat to her, but those situations no longer exist. She needs them so that, like Tenchi, she can develop her own power. You know as well as I, if not better than I, that she will never reach her full potential without all three of them. Now that Ryoko and Tenchi are together it becomes even more essential for her to have all of them for their mutual benefit. This way they will strengthen one another without one having to compensate for the shortcomings of the other. But like I said, you already knew all of this."
Washu nodded. "Yes I did. I guess I just wanted to make sure that you understood it fully as well." She gave him a look of resignation, "I wish I could find another way for you. I know you don't wish to return to Jurai."
He shook his head. "I told Ayeka, when she discovered my true identity that this is where I wanted to be buried and I still feel that way." His smile returned. "But that is not a concern for a number of years. Funaho has stored up enough "borrowed" energy from the gems to last for a number of decades. I will also be able to keep up my disguise for nearly that period as well."
"Yosho, you don't have to maintain it when it's just the two of us. You know I can keep a secret or two." She smiled.
He replied by dismissing his false appearance as an elderly priest. Although still in his training regalia, he now showed his true form, that of the smiling, youthful Crown Prince of Jurai.
"It's easy to see where Tenchi gets his good looks," she said approvingly.
"Washu?" Yosho asked with a telling grin. "Are you flirting with me?"
She returned her own grin. "What if I was?"
He looked at her with mock solemnity. "Well you do appear to be a bit young for that sort of thing."
Washu chuckled and then her appearance also changed; where once had been a diminutive 12 year old girl now sat a fully grown and voluptuous young woman, with bright green eyes and waves of curly red hair. "How about now?"
He smiled appreciatively. "It's not hard to tell where Ryoko's beauty originates either."
Yosho rose from the table, going to the back retrieving a ceramic bottle from a warmer. He returned carrying the bottle of fine atsukan (hot sake) and two cups. "Would you care for something a bit stronger than tea?" he asked, pouring a cup for his beautiful companion.
She took the offered cup and softly replied, "Don't mind if I do."
