Forgotten Sonata
By Ryokoluv17
"Mom!" Ryoko barges into the room rushing over to Washu's bedside immediately pulling her into an embrace, Tenchi followed behind with the same urgency. Washu scowled separating herself from her daughter's stronghold after noticing the young man. She picks up her oval handheld mirror feverishly fixing her hair
Ryoko snatches the mirror out of her hand. "Hey, I was worried about you. I was visibly shaking all over. Are you alright?!"
Washu sighed, brushing off Tenchi's bow in acknowledgment. "Oh, stop your howling! How do you think I felt? With that gun pointing at me, I pissed myself. Literally! Curse old age and a weak bladder." Washu fanned herself recounting the embarrassing moment. "Thank Kami, it was simply a graze, damn bastard," Washu muttered.
"Wait 'til I get my hands on him?! I'll show him not to mess with the Hakubi women!" Ryoko balled her fist victoriously. Washu groaned once more. "One look at that gun you would've cowered away." She stifled a laugh at Ryoko's stunned expression before placing her hand on top of hers sympathetically.
"Mr. Masaki, how much do you need for fuel? Ryoko hand me my purse, hurry now." Washu leveled at the man.
"Dr. Hakubi that won't be necessary. Please." Tenchi placed his hands up timidly.
"Now you don't have to cover for my little Ryoko. She dragged you all the way here," Washu eyed both of them skeptically.
"Mom stop it, I asked Tenchi for a ride since it this is an urgent matter, I was extremely worried." Ryoko exaggerated placing her hand on top of Washu's pallid one.
"It's no trouble really." Tenchi scratched the back of his head.
"Your lost bucko. Could've bought yourself some pop or a nice playboy magazine." Washu joked resting back on her pillow.
"Mother!" Another voice shouted causing the three to jolt in surprise. Tenchi moved to the side as another woman crossed the threshold hastily heading to the bedside. Tenchi noticed she possess the same qualities of Ryoko, though older and taller with chocolate colored orbs. The woman sights landed on him, before darting to Ryoko.
"Nagi. What the hell?" Ryoko snarls.
"Ryoko. Nice to see you again." Nagi retorted disapprovingly, she turned to Washu from her position at the foot of the bed. "Mother, how are you feeling?"
"I am much better now, seeing my two daughters in the same room. It took a near death experience for this to happen?!" Washu voice rose adjusting her pillow.
"You mean half-sisters," Ryoko muttered as her fingers fiddle over the wooden bureau bouncing over the rim of the sink.
"Sisters none the less!" Nagi shot back.
"To hell with that!" Ryoko mimicked thrusting up her middle finger.
"So childish! Kuso Ku-" Nagi started before realizing she was in the presence of her mother and guest. Tenchi eyes widen at the realization of what Nagi was on the verge of saying. He nearly gagged at the fact, that the woman was urging her sister to eat fecal matter.
"Ya! This is not the time to fight! Might cause me to have a relapse." Washu placed a warm cloth on her forehead as she rested back on the pillow.
"Mom stop being so dramatic!" Ryoko bellowed.
"Enough of the bellowing, you two are causing me wrinkles!" She removed the cloth resting it on the basin. Her attention goes back to the quiet male in the room, in a sweet manner she called out to him
"Mr. Masaki, do you mind taking Ryoko back? Nagi can stay with me for the time being."
"Really mom? Why chose her to stay with you? All we know she will leave you high and dry like she always has…chasing after dreams…men…with money. You know?" Ryoko scoffed. Nagi rolled her eyes, placing her briefcase in the seat Ryoko last occupied.
"What can I say? I am a woman who goes after what she wants. Allow me to walk you out it's the least I can do. I will be back shortly, mother." Nagi escorted the two out the room.
The three headed to the stairwell, Tenchi gulped looking to his peripheral at Ryoko. Ryoko ears were filled with the sounds of her sister's heels clicking behind her, her faint perfume flowing to her nostrils. Ryoko sighed and reached out to Tenchi.
"Tenchi, I will be down shortly. My bigheaded sister has something to say!" Ryoko kidded looking to Nagi impishly. Tenchi hesitantly nodded and bowed, descending to the lobby.
"What are you doing with him?" Nagi peered over the wooden banister.
"What are you implying?" Ryoko narrowed her eyes crossing her arms over her chest.
"Ryoko I am not going to fight with you! I simply asked a question and I want an answer!" Nagi's voice raised slightly tugging on Ryoko's left arm, securing it in her hands.
"Who died and made you Queen?!" Ryoko snatched her arm back, backing away.
"Is he the one you like? It's him, isn't it?" Nagi drew close, her white pencil skirt remaining in place as she walked over. "You have that look on your face, the look you make when you are into someone."
Ryoko stared blankly back at her sister, "Stop with the overanalyzing, I am no test subject nor patient. Don't pull that reverse psychology crap on me! I do not know what you are talking about! I'll have you know I've been a loyal wife, I just so happen bumped into Tenchi and asked him for a ride! Nothing else."
"Tenchi or Mr. Masaki? Why are you explaining yourself? I can simply take another dose of your 'It is none of your business!'" Nagi countered.
Ryoko snarled making a step for the stairwell, "Stay out of my home life."
Nagi pulled her into an embrace. "All right, just promise me to be careful. I love you, little sister, get home safely." Nagi kissed Ryoko's forehead. Once Nagi turned away heading back to the room, Ryoko vigorously wiped her forehead as she made her way down the steps.
…
Ryoko continued to grumble to herself as she made her way to the pick-up truck waiting outside.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, just peachy," Ryoko said sarcastically closing the door.
"I never knew you had a sister." He started the truck, it lurched forward sharply, causing the young man to repeatedly apologize.
"Yeah, I failed to remember that detail." She retorted once she secured the lap belt around her.
"I don't mean to be prod but…why is there such a disconnect between you two?" Tenchi kept his sights on the road ahead of him. Ryoko twisted her head settling into the seat, "Nagi and I are half-sisters, I was more of a daddy's girl. While she was more of our mother's protégé, she decided to go to America to major in clinical psychology." She sighed resting her head on the window. "Damn overachiever." She muttered.
"I see, that must've been difficult being a Japanese living in America."
"Well, she got through somehow. She barely looks Japanese. Wait, just exactly who side are you on?"
"Sorry was curious. So, where is your father now?" Tenchi came to a stop.
"Dead." Ryoko retorted flatly. Tenchi nodded.
"Hey, Tenchi?" She questioned looking out the window.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Can we not speak any more about my miserable life."
Tenchi smiled, "Sure thing, Ryoko."
…
"How dare you make this unit look bad?!" A voice alerted Hotsuma, as sauntered through the hall.
"Shut up!" Another shout filled the corridor. Hotsuma looked at the man posted outside the room.
"Sir!" The stunned soldier saluted.
"Crazy Asshole!" A grunt and more incoherent noises filled the room behind the closed door, Hotsuma burst in to find a man strapped to the chair with facial bruising's, and an imprint of a shoe smudge on his white hospital top.
"What's with all of this?!" Hotsuma pulled back the offender.
"Sir..." A breathless Captain uttered. Hotsuma grabbed his counterpart by the collar and ordered the guardsman to place the patient back into his holding area.
On the patio of the station, Hotsuma thrust the young officer ahead of him.
"Kazuo is still a patient, did it not dawned on you that there will be repercussions, Cpt. Ito?"
"Sir, you wouldn't allow that to happen, would you? After all, we grew up in this together. And you remember how you were when we were privates, your motto was that 'You can tell things if you beat someone up good' remember?" Captain Ito smiled.
"We are not privates." Hotsuma angrily stared at him. "I will keep this to myself, but don't let this happen again."
"It won't happen again, sir!" Ito brought himself to attention and saluted.
…
Tenchi brought the truck to a halt at the lake. It was the perfect time of day to catch the afternoon sun, peeking through the branches of the Cherry blossom trees that formed an arch over the bridge ahead. Tenchi turned back to the truck to see Ryoko resting her head on her arms on the door frame smiling contently to herself.
"It is more beautiful over the lake. It is a sight to see." Tenchi suggested watching her.
Ryoko shook her head, "It is more enjoyable when you close your eyes, let your senses take over. Try it." Tenchi smiled and closes his eyes, he tilts his head back with his hands gripping the corners of the door and allowed his senses to take over, just as Ryoko instructed. He was enjoying this feeling, feeling the breeze bypass him, the whiff of the cherry blossoms filling his nostrils. The feel of warmth over his hand. Pressure surrounding his hand. Holding his hand. A soft hand. A hand? Tenchi slowly opened his eyes staring down at the beauty before him. His fingers traveled to her face, to her lips, his thumb over her rosy bottom lip. Rosy lips. Tenchi pulled his hand back, looking at the stunned face of the woman before him. Ryoko slowly opened the door and closed it, the screech of old metal filled the air. Not daring to look into his eyes, she fiddled with her pointer finger and thumb.
"Ryoko. I am sorry, I didn't mean to."
"I'll walk from here. Thank you for the ride, Tenchi." She sprinted off.
…
Captain Ito and Hotsuma approached the reception desk. The two young nurses in mid-conversation began to blush. One broke away leaning over on the table. "How can I help you?" Captain Ito brows rose as he aimed to catch a glimpse of the woman's copious cleavage.
"Dr. Washu Hakubi's room, Please," Hotsuma said to the nurse, who instructed him to sign the log. He looked down to jot down his name when two slots above caught his attention: Hakubi, Ryoko. He was briefly taken back. The petite nurse escorted them to the stairwell and to the physician's room,
"Hey, Nurse...?" Captain Ito began in a flirty manner.
"Sora." She blushes, Ito places his arm around her and walks with her down the hall, not forgetting to wink back at Hotsuma. He shook his head and knocked, upon told to enter, he
found that Nagi was seated beside a sleeping Washu.
"Brother-in-law, happy to see you again!" Nagi sauntered over to embrace him.
"Nagi? I think you've mistakenly written the wrong name on the visitor's log sheet."
"You are so silly, of course I didn't. Mother's welfare, was more important than scribbling my name on that thing."
"I see, and I see she is doing fine, getting her beauty rest in as she would say." He studied the sleeping Washu, he lowered his head in disappointment, "I can't believe she disobeyed me…" He muttered to his self. The comment did not fell on deaf ears, Nagi peered up questionably.
"Marital issues, I presume?" Nagi took a brief glance at her mother.
Hotsuma sighed, "I'll have you know, Ryoko and I are not having any plunder in our marital discourse. After all, I just came to check on my mother-in-law and I can see she is well, so I will be going now." He placed on his headgear making his way to the door when Nagi spoke again.
"She came with another." Nagi uttered.
With his hand curved around the knob, curiosity goaded at him. He turned to her, "Who is the 'other'?" Nagi sighed drawing close, "Hasn't it been obvious? Hasn't she been acting peculiar? How's the sex life?" Hotsuma eyed her for a moment, mulling over her inquiries. The corner of his lips rose amusingly, "Snitching, are we?" Nagi's index finger toyed with the gold buttons of his jacket, and just over the insignia on his collar. "You know you were the one who got away…I guess you were seeking someone younger… more infantile." Nagi's rosy lips parted showing her pearly whites. Hotsuma scoffed pushing her away.
"Tenchi Masaki." She said in a whisper. "He is the one she likes." She stared straight into his eyes.
….
Ryoko sluggishly removed her shoes, she sauntered over the couch and plops down in a daze. Her mind constantly replaying the last interaction with Tenchi.
Flashback
"It is more enjoyable when you close your eyes, let your senses take over. Try it." Tenchi smiles and closes his eyes, he tilts his head back with his hands gripping the corners of the door and allowed his senses to take over, just as Ryoko instructed.
"Tenchi, don't lean back too far you will fall." Ryoko chuckled, sensing the man could not hear her she called out once more, holding his hand. "Tenchi! Tenchi!" She squeezed his hand once more. To her relief, she watches him open his eyes, peering down at her. She sat frozen in the passenger seat, as his hand cupped the side of her face. His thumb running across her lips, Ryoko watched as his face moves towards hers, out of reflex she quickly places her hand where his laid against her cheek, and her other arm stretching out to stop him.
"Tenchi…" Ryoko uttered shakily. Tenchi face screwed in disbelief, as he rested his forehead on hers. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to." Ryoko moves her head slightly pushing him away. Tenchi held the door open for her, watching her hail him from afar. Not daring to look at him, she fiddled with her pointer finger and thumb.
"Ryoko. I am sorry, I didn't mean to. Please let me explain" Tenchi reached out
"No need Tenchi, I'll walk from here. Thank you for the ride." She sprinted off.
Her fingers trekked up to her lips where his thumb had rested moments earlier.
….
Hotsuma hauls out of the room, hastily walking to the stairwell, Nagi rushes out after him stopping at the banister. "You didn't hear it from me!" She bellowed causing the hospital staff to look in her direction. Hotsuma made it to lobby to find Captain Ito philandering with the nurse at the front desk.
"Took you long enough," Captain Ito caught the stern look on Hotsuma's face, he immediately followed behind his senior. "What's the face for?"
"Take me home!" He ordered the man.
….
"I'm home!" Sasami shouted as she walked in. She walked into the living space noticing Tenchi sitting on the loveseat in a bit of a stupor. "Brother, I said 'I'm home'" She nudged his leg with a kick.
"Oh, Sasami welcome home!" His voice was hoarse as he looks up at her, Sasami immediately detected the change. "What's wrong?" Sasami tilted her head concern evident in her voice, Tenchi smiled sympathetically at the little girl, "You must be hungry? I will whip something up." He rose heading to the kitchen.
"I'm home!" Sasami turned to the voice, watching her sister walk in. Sasami quickly rose and bowed, running to her room. Ayeka blinks at the girl's antics, her attention turns to the man in the kitchen. She smiles walking over to him, noticing he was staring forlornly ahead of him. She rests back on the counter staring at him, "Something on your mind?" Tenchi jolts slightly, "No what makes you say that?" Ayeka twisted her body holding the hand that secured a spoon, "For starters, there are Udon noodles in a pot with no water." Tenchi brows quirked at her before looking into the pot. "Again, is there something on your mind? Let me take over, go and rest." Tenchi nodded handing the apron over to her.
…..
Ryoko remains in her spot until the sound of footsteps alerted her. She felt her heart pounding against the walls of her chest, she immediately shot up. Hotsuma storms into the living room seeking her out. He menacingly stared at her, as she frighteningly stares back.
"Before-Shut up!" Hotsuma cut her off, Ryoko lowers her head. He clasps his hand over his mouth trying to place a constraint on his temper. "Why did you go there after I distinctly told you, not to go?" Ryoko stared into his eyes, "It's my mother! What else did you expect me to do?" She panics. She watches him as he takes a seat on the arm of the couch, "Anything else? Like how you got there? Who took you there?!" Ryoko felt as if her legs were going to give out, she reaches out to the couch and sat down, staring ahead of her.
The couple sat on opposite sides of the couch, silent as they dealt with their own reservations. Some time had gone by before the other spoke. "Why are you pretending?" Hotsuma questioned not turning to her. Ryoko slowly turned to him, "I am not pretending. Why would you ask that?" Hotsuma chuckles as his vision blurs, a tear rolling down his cheek as anger build within him, "You never loved me, you hate me." He said spitefully. "I robbed you of your childhood. You weren't ready to be married, I forced you. Tenchi? That Masaki boy, he brings the youth out of you, doesn't he?" He twists to her; a few tears fall down her cheek. She felt confused and feeling like she was cornered. Ryoko makes an attempt to leave until Hotsuma pulls her back down by her wrist roughly. "Look at me! You hate me that much to not look me in the eye? Look at me!" He held her by the shoulders trying to have her look at him, Ryoko pushes him away. She walks off to the table, gathering her thoughts, but Hotsuma would not let the matter go. He roughly spins her around, cupping her chin in his hands, keeping her face to him. "Look at me…" He encouraged sorrowfully, his own voice croaking as he repeatedly ordered her to. Ryoko kept her eyes downcast, He studied her for a moment, his heartbreaking watching her refusing to look at him. Ryoko grimaced as she felt his hands roaming her body, gripping the fabric of her dress as he embraced her tightly. His lips kiss her neck up to her earlobe, he whispered in her, "Do you love him?" He eases his head back to get a good read on her tear-stained face, Ryoko shook her head. "No..." She utters, he kisses her passionately, his hand dips down her back to her buttocks and lifts her up on to the wooden table. His hands sought the pearl coated buttons and hastily rips the back of her dress.
"Hotsuma…please" She asserted as she arches against him, he took the moment to pull her dress down to her waist, seeking gratification at her bosom. Ryoko gritted her teeth in response to the pleasure she was receiving. "You promised you weren't going to do this until I was ready." She establishes a distance between them. Her amber eyes searching his blue orbs for an answer. He takes hold of her face, she grabs his wrists. "I want you now! I have waited a year to consummate this marriage. I have waited each day for you, I can't wait any longer!" He picks her up taking her into the bedroom. At the bed, he thrusts her forward and with a grunt, he pulls the ribbon that secured her hair out and lifted her dress up to her waist. With the ribbon, he tied her hands above her head, as she laid face down. Ryoko gasps as he kisses the nape of the neck, she felt his hand resting in the middle of shoulder blades. Hotsuma places most of his weight on her back as he enters her. Ryoko whimpers burying her face in the sheets.
Ayeka smiles as she places the finishing touches on the meals, she abruptly stops hearing rustling in the study. She peeks into the room, finding Tenchi removing all the books from the shelf, and art canvas scattered around him. "What are you doing, Tenchi?" Ayeka questioned placing her hands on her hips, looking around at the mess. Tenchi looks up blankly, "It was a mess, I needed to clean." Ayeka scoffed, "It was Sasami's turned to clean it last weekend. She always did a thorough job. You are acting odd! Come now, let's eat. Sasami dinner is ready!" Tenchi dejectedly glances around him.
"How was school today, Sasami?" Ayeka places the handkerchief on her lap.
"It was great, I received an A+ on my spelling test." Sasami smiles as she tucks the handkerchief within her collar. Sasami glances at Tenchi who struggled with picking up the noodles.
"What is wrong?" Sasami asks. Tenchi rose from the chair, "I feel stuffy. I will be back, just save my portion." Tenchi started for the door until Ayeka pulls him back. "Just leave me alone, Ayeka!"
Ryoko laid quietly staring at the ceiling as her fingers pass through Hotsuma's damped mane, her caresses lulled him into sleep on her bosom. The placidness was interrupted by a knock at the front door. Hotsuma tightened his hold around her waist, cursing under his breath. Ryoko rested back hoping the person will go away, up till another knock came more forceful. "I'll get it." Ryoko plants a kiss on his lips before retrieving her robe. She trails to the door fixing her hair in the process.
Again chocolate brown orbs met her amber ones, "Tenchi?" Ryoko glances behind her, "What are you doing here?"
"Ryoko, I just want to talk to you. Can I talk to you?" Tenchi tensely asked.
"Now is not a good time, Tenchi. Can you please go?" Ryoko hugged herself.
"He's there, isn't he? Your husband?" Ryoko nods, "It's best that you go."
Tenchi nodded, "Right. Goodnight Ryoko." and backs away from the door, reluctantly turning away.