Chapter 13
The remainder of the evening passed quietly. The only thing worth any notice was when Aeka emerged from the closet door; head held low, looking at no one as she steadily made her way to the stairs. Ryoko and Tenchi quietly watched her progression as she slowly climbed, disappearing down the hallway and back into her room. They exchanged a somber glance until Ryoko gave him a little smile placing her hand on top of his. He nodded returning the small smile.
Eventually everyone else went to bed, with the two of them lingering behind. Finally alone, Ryoko leaned over, kissed Tenchi on his cheek, laid her head on his shoulder and slightly nuzzled his neck. She then let out a contended sigh, spurring a warm smile from her boyfriend.
"We should get to bed as well," he gently told her.
She nodded and with that, they disappeared, reappearing sitting on the edge of his bed.
Tenchi blinked, saying, "I think I'm starting to get used to that. It's not so jarring anymore.
Ryoko made an exaggerated sad face. "Bored with me already?" she said.
Tenchi smirked back at her, "Never."
Her face brightened. "Good answer," she said kissing him.
As the kiss ended, Tenchi said to her, "We should get to sleep. You need to be well rested for tomorrow."
Ryoko's eyebrows furrowed and she grimaced. "Now you sound like Washu. She said the same thing."
"Well," replied Tenchi, "This time I happen to think she's right."
A look of fright came over her. "Shhhhh," she whispered. "Don't let her hear you say that. Who knows what that could start?"
"Oh yeah," he realized, whispering back. "Sorry."
They both smiled. Tenchi went to his dresser, pulling out a few pieces of clothing as she watched. He turned and handed her a set of his pajamas, holding on to another.
She looked at the clothing in her hand, frowning, then up to him. "What the hell am I supposed to do with these?" she asked him incredulously as she stood up.
"Put them on…" he answered, hesitantly. "Please… for me?"
She saw how sincere he was with his request and sighed, "Okay" and began to take off her dress.
"Wait!" Tenchi exclaimed, just above a whisper. "Could you just do one of your quick changes?"
Ryoko rolled her eyes, disappeared and then reappeared in the pajamas. They were not at all form fitting and were rather baggy in areas. She gave him a disgusted look.
Tenchi held up his hand and made a spinning motion with his finger saying, "Now if you'll just turn around I'll get changed."
Ryoko looked crestfallen. "What's all this about?" She looked down at her pajamas and then at the set in his hand. "Why are we wearing these?"
Tenchi had a strange look on his face; at first he said nothing, but blushed so hard he soon looked like a red hot stove. Finally he answered her, a crooked grin forming on his lips, "Because if we don't… I-I don't think you'll get the rest you need to be ready for tomorrow."
He saw her eyes go wide and her mouth open in surprise, which quickly changed to a smile. He now returned the smile and scratched the back of his head, still blushing profusely.
Her smile became warm and loving, and then came an added glint in her eyes. "Alright," she said as she crossed her arms in front of her and slowly turned around.
As he began to change she leaned her head back to the left allowing him to see her grin along with a hint of a blush herself. "But tomorrow night, you're all mine" she purred, leaning back a bit more to stress her point.
He said nothing as he continued changing, though his smile got bigger and his blush continued as a result of her statement and all it implied. When he finished, he announced, "I'll get the lights." He flipped the switch and then they got into the bed together.
He kissed her, lovingly. "Good night, Ryoko."
"Good night, my Tenchi," she replied then rolled over onto her side away from him.
He snuggled up against her, his arm around her. Soon he felt her beginning to squirm, leaning her body increasingly against his.
"Ryoko… good ni-ight, " he said, mildly chastising her.
A slight giggle escaped her lips and she stopped squirming. "Good night," she whispered sweetly.
He sighed, smiling and closed his eyes, quickly losing himself in her scent as they fell asleep together.
Aeka did not sleep well, tossing and turning constantly in her sleep, awakening herself a number of times. The last instance had occurred about 20 minutes prior. She had just been lying there, staring into the lessening darkness prior to sunrise. Thinking on that, she arose and dressed. Determined not to awaken her sleeping companions, particularly Sasami, she silently slipped out the door into the hallway. She went downstairs, put on her shoes, coat, and mittens, and exited out the front door, into the brightening twilight. She walked to the lake shore and then onto the dock, facing to the east, awaiting the coming dawn.
This will probably be the last time I'll get to see this, she thought sadly.
It was still cold and quiet, no breeze apparent as she stood there waiting. As the cloudless sky lightened, the sun peeked out above the tree lined mountains, appearing initially as the edge of an orange ball. As it cleared the trees, it took on its more familiar color, casting it light on the somber visage of the elder Princess of Jurai, as she wiped something from the corners of her eyes. Aeka felt the sun begin to warm her face as she closed her eyes to focus on the sensation. She stood there, basking in its glow, immobile, for nearly 5 minutes when she opened her eyes, sighed, and turned away. She walked back down the dock, turning to follow the shoreline, headed out to visit the various places she had known here, one last time, alone with her memories of what might have been.
In her laboratory, after watching the princess' movements on her screen since she arose, Washu decided that now was the opportune time for Ryoko to intercede.
"Ryoko... Ryoko... Wake up!"
She 'heard' a groggy reply, "Damn it Washu... what the hell do you want now?"
Her mother grinned as she replied, "Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep, but Aeka's outside by herself right now. It's probably now or never, Ryoko!"
Ryoko responded by phasing out from Tenchi's sleeping embrace, and looked down at him, frowning. "I was so comfy too."
"Think about Tenchi later. Focus on Aeka now!" Washu scolded.
"Alright, alright. I'm on it." Ryoko quickly changed her clothes, wearing one of her favorite outfits; red tights, white blouse with pink trim, covered by her orange and green sleeved jacket. She teleported out and reappeared above the lake. Although looking about at height, she couldn't see Aeka anywhere at the moment.
"Washu, you got a bead on her?"
"She's here." Washu sent her a mental image of the princess' location to her daughter, who immediately realized Aeka's destination.
Taking a stroll down memory lane, are we princess? Ryoko thought with a wry grin.
Washu interrupted her thought, 'saying' to her, "I'm not sure where she's headed."
Ryoko scoffed aloud and then sent to her mother, "It's okay. I know exactly where she's going."
Aeka opened the door to the storage shack and walked in, not bothering to close it behind her. She glanced around. Nothing had seemed to change significantly since she had last been here. How long has it been... she asked herself, since that time in the rain? Since I first felt those feelings for him? The feelings that grew only to be cast aside. So that he could choose another. So that he could choose her...
"Returning to the scene of the crime, eh princess?" said the voice of the pirate behind her, causing Aeka to scowl.
"I am in no mood for you today, please leave," she said brusquely.
"Nope. I came here to talk to you and that's what we're gonna do," she said dismissing the princess' request. She walked up to her former rival within arms reach as Aeka turned to her. The Jurian was not attempting to hide her anger, a good sign that Ryoko was already getting to her.
"You need to leave... now," the princess said through gritted teeth.
Getting there, Ryoko thought. "Or what?" she asked, almost leering at Aeka.
"Or I'll make you wish you had..." threatened the purple-haired girl, power beginning to emanate around her.
Ryoko smiled inside but to Aeka said with a resigned look, "Well if you feel that way about it I'll leave," and disappeared.
Aeka was slightly surprised at Ryoko's departure, but grateful for the base pirate's absence... at least until...
Ryoko popped back in behind her dressed in her red battle-suit, hugging Aeka from behind, grinning at her, saying, "I lied." Then they both disappeared from the shack only to re-appear over Tenchi's training ground. Ryoko then casually flew down and dropped Aeka into a convenient snow bank, laughing hysterically. We're close now, she thought.
"You really think you could ever say anything to scare me off?" she said looking down at the princess sitting on her rump in the snow, glaring daggers up at her. "Yeah, that'll be the day!" Ryoko crowed. She floated to the ground in front of Aeka.
"Look at you, the once Perfect Prissy Princess... now more like the Pitiful Pathetic Princess." She wasn't enjoying the verbal assault she was launching at Aeka, feeling guilty with every word, but she pressed on.
Aeka was rising to her feet, her anger obviously mounting. "I do not know why you are really here but I am leaving today and never returning, the main benefit being that I will never have to look at your horrid face ever again!"
Ryoko snorted, "I doubt you're leaving because of my face." She looked at her friend knowingly. "We both know EXACTLY why you're running away. You're running because you haven't got the guts to stay and deal with reality, not caring who you hurt along the way, not even Sasami."
"It should have been me. He should have chosen me!" Aeka said bitterly ignoring Ryoko's words. "Why would anyone rather have a thing like you when they could have me?" She knew how she sounded but she was far past the point of caring.
"Wow," the Space Pirate offered, "I always knew you were stuck on yourself princess, but this takes conceit to a whole new level... even for you." Almost there, she thought.
"I deserve him. I am worthy of him," Aeka said through clenched teeth. "You are not."
Ryoko took the opportunity, thrusting verbally into Aeka by giving an exaggerated impression of her; "Oh look at me, I'm poor Princess Aeka. After having everything handed to me my entire life, I finally didn't get something I wanted; so I'm just gonna stomp my feet and run home to MOMMY, dragging my poor innocent sister with me, against her will, because I'm a selfish spoiled bitch who doesn't give a shit about anyone else but herself!"
By this time Aeka's face was the portrait of pure rage. Her arms were extended at her sides ending in fists, power cascading around her.
And the final straw, Ryoko thought. "If Tenchi could see you now, he'd know he made the right choice," she said quietly.
Aeka screamed and let loose a strike of power at Ryoko who, knowing it was coming, phased out its path, leaving it to cut a 10 foot hole through the trees for as far as anyone cared to look.
"Wow your aim really stinks, princess," Ryoko mocked her from behind. Aeka spun around letting loose another attack, again to find her target absent.
Again, from behind and a little to the right, "Too slow."
Another attack, another miss.
"Maybe you'd have better luck next time with someone who wasn't a blood relative," she taunted, then ported away to another location, laughing.
Aeka whipped around again and again, firing and missing, becoming angrier at every miss, the intensity of the attacks growing in proportion, Ryoko laughing and taunting her more, with every miss, never once attacking, but thinking, she is scary pissed.
Again and again, the sequence continued. Finally, however, the odds caught up with Ryoko, along with a change in tactics by Aeka. She started to make another attack, but in reality, it was a feint, spinning to try to catch Ryoko unawares. It worked. By chance the attack came straight at Ryoko's face; she was saved from injury by the barrier she was able to throw up at the last instant, but due to the force and angle of the blow, had ended up standing on the ground. Before she could port away the familiar Jurian mini logs appeared, enveloping her barrier causing her to remain in place just long enough for Aeka's final monumental blast, the princess expending all of her remaining energy into the attack, yelling at the tops of her lungs in the process.
The last thing that Ryoko, saw, before she closed her eyes, was the tremendous wave of energy, that first destroyed the Jurian mini logs trapping her and then her own barrier collapsing as she threw up her arms in front of her face in an involuntary defensive response.
In his bedroom, Tenchi sat up instantly, fully awake, his eyes wide open, fear coursing through him. "Ryoko!" was his only word. He sprang from his bed, threw open the door, and ran into the hallway. Taking the stairs in a single jump, he landed, rolling, grabbed his coat, slammed on his shoes and bolted out the front door at full speed.
The last thing that Aeka saw was her blast disintegrating her logs on its way to its target. As the attack struck home and exploded, clouds of smoke and snow enveloped the impact site to the point of total obscurity. She smiled victoriously, knowing she had beaten her rival. "I've finally made you eat your words, Ryoko!" she crowed. "I imagine you won't be so quick to gloat the next time, pirate!"
There was no reply.
Aeka's smile of victory began to fade. Still unable to see the point where the attack had struck, she began to walk toward it.
"Ryoko."
Still nothing but a silent cloud.
"Ryoko?" she asked, her voice sounding a bit anxious.
...
"Ryoko?!" Her voice betrayed her rising fear. She moved quickly to where her friend had been.
...
"Ryoko!"
...
As Aeka got within 10 feet or so of the cloud, it began to dissipate. The first thing she noticed was... a light. No it was three lights... arranged in a pattern of a translucent fan made of three ornate blades. Standing behind it was Ryoko, her arms crossed in front of her face, her closed eyes, wincing against the deadly blow that somehow hadn't come. Aeka also noticed that Ryoko's battle suit had changed slightly in style but more notable were her three jewels as well as a three circle emblem of power on her forehead, all glowing as brightly as the fan before her.
Ryoko slowly opened her eyes, wondering why she was still breathing when she saw the bright translucent fan in front of her. With her eyes as wide as they could go, her only comment was a nearly breathless "Holy shit."
Aeka, wide eyed herself, brought her mitten-ed hand up to her mouth. "Wings of the Light Hawk," she said in awe. "Just like Tenchi," she said, at first, absentmindedly. Then in her head, Just like Tenchi... they even share that now... Her face now showed resignation, as she looked upon her shocked companion.
Ryoko surveyed her situation: There were three Light Hawk wings in front of her; the gems on her wrists were glowing bright red, as well as, she assumed, the one on her neck; the pattern of her battle suit had slightly changed as had its material, feeling almost silky in nature against her skin; and Aeka was calmly standing in front of her, no longer trying to obliterate her. Relax, she told herself. You actually survived it.
With the threat to Ryoko abated, things began to change; the wings now vanished as did her emblem of power, the glow from her gems faded, and her battle-suit returned to normal.
They looked at one another in silence, relief evident in both their faces.
Ryoko spoke first. "Are we done?" she asked with a smirk.
Aeka, with a slight smile, nodded.
"Finally, jeez," Ryoko said releasing a breath.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" the princess asked, shaking her head, already knowing the answer.
"Of course I did," her friend replied, "and if you hadn't been so messed up you'd have realized it sooner." She brushed her two hands together as if to clean them off. "I told you I came to talk to you, but I knew you'd be too pissed off to listen, so..." She shrugged.
"... you deliberately made me mad so we could get to... this point. Right?" the princess surmised.
"Got it in one," her companion complimented. "I guess I underestimated a little, just how ticked you got... "
"So it would seem," the princess said meekly, with a little smile.
"Yeah." Ryoko agreed. "I've never been big on defense; it's not really my style. So I guess I was kind of out of my element, you could say." She wryly smiled at her friend. "I'm the one usually dishing it out, not taking it."
"You never did attack, did you?" Aeka realized. "You really took that risk just so that I would talk to you?"
Ryoko smiling, proudly nodded.
Aeka looked at her sternly. "Are you crazy?"
"What?"
"You must be absolutely certifiable. You almost got killed, by me; almost turned me into your murderer..."
"I had to," Ryoko defended. "You went all stupid when he told you about us. You weren't going to listen to anyone, just run back to Jurai, taking poor Sasami with you. And the stupidest thing of all was I know you didn't want to go. You just thought that that was all you could do."
Ryoko walked closer to her friend. "Aeka, no one wants you to go. Not Tenchi or Yosho, not Washu... not me. Hell, neither of you want to go either. So why go?"
Aeka didn't say anything, considering what the pirate had said. "But you and Tenchi..." she started.
"Are together, yeah," Ryoko finished. "And it's gonna stay that way even if I have to attack a hundred more Jurais." She looked at Aeka squarely in her eyes. "We're not going to hide how we feel about each other but we're not going to rub it into anyone's face either."
Ryoko could tell that Aeka was listening, seeing it on her face, her posture and mannerisms. She had hope.
"It won't feel right if you guys leave. This is your home, you guys belong here." Ryoko looked down and said quietly, "You're my best friend, Aeka..." she paused collecting herself and then, raising her eyes, said, "Don't go... please?"
Aeka looked into Ryoko's eyes and noticed they were glassy and full of emotion. The princess was conflicted. She knew deep down she had never wanted to go; to leave and never see them again, especially this insane woman in front of her, who had risked her own life in an attempt to dissuade her. It seems no one wanted her to depart. But to see them together, would she have the strength to endure it... Could she truly accept it?
She had denied their relationship, wanted to believe it had been a mistake. No matter the evidence to the contrary, on the surface, she wanted to believe that she had to be the better choice, that Tenchi had made a rash decision... but, at her core, she knew better. The fact that he had taken as long as he did to decide dismissed any idea of rashness. And there were other things about Tenchi and Ryoko that she could not deny; their long connection beginning at the cave, the way he would act every time Ryoko was in danger, as she had been with Kagato and Dr. Clay, the tenderness and concern he would never fail to show her at such times. And now Ryoko and Tenchi even shared the power of Light Hawk Wings, a power Aeka could never have. Yes, to her, even the universe itself seemed to bring them together. I can't fight the universe, she thought, conceding to its inevitability.
At least Sasami will be happy.
Aeka crossed her arms in front of her, sighing. She gave Ryoko a crooked smile, in grudging surrender to her Demon Space Pirate best friend.
"You win."
"Yes!" Ryoko exclaimed triumphantly and instantly glomped onto Aeka.
Tenchi had come up to the edge of the training field unnoticed, seeing them together, hugging. He now afforded himself a moment to catch his breath and smile in relief, as he moved back behind a tree. Finally he took a deep breath, briefly held it, then let it out releasing the remaining tension in his body. He looked at them once more, smiling at the joyful scene, and, deciding that his presence wasn't needed, quietly turned, heading back to the house. He took it slow, giving himself time for some much needed contemplation.
The initially surprised princess had exchanged the hug with her friend until her sense of propriety returned. "Okay, enough of that," she said as she broke away from Ryoko's clutches. "There is absolutely no hope that you will ever change is there?
"No hope at all," Ryoko proclaimed, shaking her head. "Never gonna happen."
"Oh well," Aeka conceded. "I better stay then. Someone must be here to maintain a respectable level of sanity."
"If you ask me it's way overrated. But whatever floats your boat..." the cyan haired woman offered with a broad smile.
Almost as if they received some unseen signal, they began to move off together, leaving the training grounds, going back towards home. Aeka noticed that Ryoko was walking beside her, not floating. She wondered with a little smile if it had been a conscious decision on Ryoko's part or not, and then realized it didn't matter either way. A question entered her mind.
"Whatever gave you the idea that infuriating me, like that, would be the best way to get me to talk?" she asked.
"It actually wasn't my idea. It was Washu's," Ryoko admitted.
"Washu?" Aeka asked surprisingly.
"Yeah. She figured if I let you use me for target practice long enough, you might eventually end up listening to what I had to say."
The princess shook her head. "She certainly in an enigma. How someone can be so wise and at the same time so..."
"Bonkers?" Ryoko offered. "Yeah. But what's worse is that she's my mother. Honestly Aeka, it scares the hell outta me wondering what I've inherited from her."
The purple haired princess nodded in agreement. "What seems most disconcerting to me, about her, is that she seems to know everything about everything that goes on around here." A sudden thought occurred to Aeka and she looked at Ryoko with concern. "Do you think she knows about what just happened?"
A look of fear entered the pirate's eyes. "Hell, I hope not." Then she heard a cackle in the back of her mind. She closed her eyes and her face betrayed a look of disgust. "Shit," she cursed. Opening her eyes she informed Aeka, "She knows." Now looking rather sullen, she muttered, "Maybe I'd a been better off if that last attack of yours had gotten through." She looked miserable.
Aeka had to chuckle. "We all have our burdens to bear."
"You think it's so damn funny, you do the tests... let her poke and prod you for hours. See if you're still laughing then."
"No, thank you," the princess replied, still chuckling.
They walked on together, Ryoko's mood gradually improving as they progressed.
"Hey, what cha gonna do about "your ride" coming?" Ryoko asked. "They're gonna be here today. What're ya gonna tell 'em?
Aeka thought about that for a moment then answered her companion. "I think I will go back with them," she said waiting for the look of shock from Ryoko. When she saw it she continued, with a grin, "For a visit." She looked down, still smiling. "It has been so long since I have last seen Jurai, walked among its gardens. It will be good to see it again, and then," she turned back to her friend with a smile, "to come back home."
Ryoko returned the smile, then asked, "What about Sasami?"
"That will be up to her," Aeka replied. "It would probably be better if she stayed here though." She explained, "Although I trust father at his word, I would rather not put before him the temptation to keep us from returning should we both be 'visiting' back on Jurai."
"Makes sense," the once scourge of Jurai agreed. She then looked at her friend. "You really need to talk to Sasami after we get back. You were pretty crappy to her," she offered honestly.
"I know I was," the princess admitted. "You were both right. I was very selfish to her. I plan on telling her so upon our return."
"Good," Ryoko replied as she looked straight ahead with a grin. "Then I won't have to kick your ass."
Aeka, also looking ahead, smiled. "It looks like today will be lovely," she stated as she viewed the clear blue sky.
"Yeah," her friend agreed beside her. "I think it's gonna be alright."
*For those who may be interested, this story also appears on the site Archive of Our Own. If you visit this story there, under the same title, you will find an amazing illustration of the pivotal moment, in this chapter, between Aeka and Ryoko, contributed by a very good friend of mine. It's well worth the look, I assure you.
