Chapter 19: No Need for Dates, Part 2
Entering the haunted structure, Ash, Sasami, Pikachu and Ryo-Ohki began to journey through the hall. People wearing white cloaks and headbands with a triangle piece sticking up over an eye. "I'm here to haunt you!" she tried to spook. Not phased, Ash grinned. The people gave Ash and Sasami a path, waiving their arms over them while Pikachu laughed. More costumed people wearing green wet suits, webbed hands and feet and arrow-like duck bills with green crowns over teal skull caps.
"Kappas!" noticed Sasami. It didn't phase Ash and Pikachu while the Kappas waived their arms over their heads. While they continued on, a group of people carrying carved lion heads and capes circling around the kids. Sasami looked mesmerized, but Ash and Pikachu didn't flinch. The actors made deafining roars to no avail. They moved on while meeting more "creatures" before leaving with humor on their faces, fear not present.
"Well, that was rather fun!" laughed Ash.
"Sure was!" agreed Sasami. Pikachu and Ryo-Ohki joined in the fun. "Let's get some candied apples!"
"Good idea!" accepted Ash. "I actually wanted to try one!"
("Me too!") squeaked Pikachu. As they came to the vendors, some of the teens Ash met with Tenchi one day viewed him and Sasami together.
"Is that you, Ash?" spoke Amagasaki. Looking, Ash and Sasami eyed Tenchi's classmates.
"Amagasaki!" he noticed. "Asuna! You came to have fun?"
"Of course," Asuna laughed, wearing a red kimono with carnations printed. "And who's your girl?"
"I'm Sasami," she identified. "I'm just Ash's date." Asuna laughed, adoring the response.
"That's so cute of you two!" she cooed. "It must be your first date and having at the festival is significant."
"I bet," Ash believed. "We're heading to get some candied apples."
"Funny enough, Asuna and I had thought of having some ourselves," Kamikura spoke up as he viewed Pikachu and Ryo-Ohki. "Can those two eat treats?" Asuna came to and lifted Pikachu and Ryo-Ohki as they wondered about this young woman.
"These two are absolutely cute!" she squealed. She nuzzled both on the cheeks to which the creatures enjoyed. They all reached a booth selling candied apples on sticks. Ryo-Ohki didn't want a bite of a candied apple.
"Oh, they're so sweet!" awed Sasami.
("They sure are!") agreed Pikachu. Kiyone came to see the group gathering.
"Everyone having a good time?" she asked, wearing a blue kimono over a red shirt and black tight trousers.
"We are, miss," Amagasaki replied.
"Great!" smiled Kiyone. "I found this that I think Pikachu will like. Someone from America wanted to present a twist." She presented a small corn dog.
("Nummy!") he cheered before nibbling into it.
"Say, aren't you one of Tenchi's housemates at his residence?" believed Kamikura.
"That's none of your business, young man," Kiyone shut down. After their snack, Ash and Sasami continued on where Ash eyed some jewelry. Suddenly, a woman in a white kimono arrived. She had her hair scrunched and tied up.
"Excuse me!" she called. Sasami turned to the new woman. "I need your help. Our dance troupe is down a dancer after she sprained her ankle." Sasami felt bad for the injured dancer. She thought. It wasn't long ago since Ash had to take over a drummer who was hospitalized.
"Alright…" she chose.
"Thank you!" the woman praised. "This way!" The women and Ryo-Ohki departed as Ash and Pikachu watched.
"I think it's that whole 'What goes around, comes around' bit?" he quoted.
("Tables have been turned on us,") Pikachu gulped. They followed the girls to a different stage. Other people came to the stage. Just then, spotlights struck the stage.
"Showtime!" one spectator realized. A handful of striped kimonos were on stage. They were in a triangle formation. Music began to play. The front woman rose her head, her face being white. She began while holding a paper fan. She began to stand while her fan opened. She reached out to the crowd with her fan hand. A minute later, Ryo-Ohki rejoined Ash and Pikachu. She leaped into Ash's arms.
"Ryo-Ohki?" he gasped. Ryo-Ohki mewed to Ash and Pikachu. "She's on stage, huh?" Ryo-Ohki pointed to one of the rising girls as they started to join the other girls in dancing. They moved to the slow instrumental music, waiving their fans around. They broke to which Sasami saw Ash. Their eyes met and Ash awed the look. 'Whoa, she's better than before!' Her blushing was under her makeup, but she knew she was performing while he watched. Ash nodded, telling Sasami to do her best.
'I won't disappoint you,' she minded. She continued to perform as the dance continued. When the music ended, all of the dancers were bowing to the crowd as they applauded the performance. After the show, Sasami reunited with Ash and the creatures.
"You were awesome!" complimented Ash.
"Thanks!" replied Sasami. "I guess we had to fill the roles. When I learned the routine, I remembered watching it with Tenchi. That's how I knew the dance."
"I guess we were both lucky to come here. This day is just awesome for us."
"You sound way too excited. I take it you slept a little longer for this night?" All Ash did was laugh to Sasami's question as Ryoko found the group.
"There you are!" she voiced. The others turned to the space pirate.
"Ryoko?" wondered Sasami.
"Hey, how are you guys holding up?" asked Ryoko.
"Good!" the kids answered.
"Good to hear!" smiled Ryoko. "Hey, Kiyone wanted to take Pikachu and Ryo-Ohki back. She wanted you to enjoy the rest of the night."
"Oh, okay," Sasami allowed.
"It's Kiyone, and I trust her," Ash believed. Pikachu and Ryo-Ohki joined Ryoko. After spending more time at the festival, an announcement came up. The vendors and rides were going to shut down, but there was the fireworks show soon to come. Ash and Sasami came to a nearby shrine to watch the fireworks. "What a night! Did you have a good time?"
"I did," Sasami chirped. "It was better than when Tenchi was with me."
"As long as you had at least a good time, that's all that matters to me." A giggled lisped from Sasami. Ash had more. "You know, I have… something important I've been wanting to tell you for a long time."
"I do, too!" The reply made Ash look to Sasami as they stared into the others' eyes.
"Oh? Well, I should start. I'm actually glad that the cave-in that trapped me and Pikachu and steered us in a different direction. I had no idea what love was before I saw you. I couldn't believe what I saw with those pink eyes and beautiful face. Then you and the family taking me in, teaching me how to cook, learn about you all… and then knowing that you'll be more beautiful growing up… it finally started to click for me."
"You mean Tsunami?"
"It can be Tsunami, but you're here."
"Well, all this time… I believed I would be Tenchi's wife by Grandpa. When Ryo-Ohki found you, I saw someone who I felt shared a likeness to me and accepted me for who I am. I now know that I was right. You saw Tsunami and you do know that we'll assimilate, but all you care about is me… I just want to say it."
"Then… let's say it together."
"Good idea." They each took a deep breath.
"Princess Sasami Masaki Jurai…"
"Ash Ketchum…"They took one deep breath.
"I love you!" they confessed in unison. The fireworks exploded in the air as the embers flew in every direction. The thundering boom sounded over the two kids laughing. They blushed. Then, they kissed on the lips. The kiss lasted for several seconds as more fireworks showered the sky. One firework made a heart. After the kiss, they smiled and giggled. Two girls caught the kiss and took pictures. In the spaceship, Misaki had a hard time holding her excitement.
"Lady Misaki, Lady Funaho," someone voiced. "We are currently three days away from reaching Earth."
"Stay on course," Funaho addressed. The spaceship flew while Ash and Sasami returned to the household.
"You're back!" greeted Mihoshi. She was giving Ryo-Ohki a bath.
"What happened?" asked Sasami.
"She was rolling in the dirt," Tenchi sighed. Ayeka approached the kids.
"I was wondering when you two were coming back," Ayeka sighed. "Do you know how…" She froze when she saw Ash's and Sasami's hands held. "Is it… official?"
"It is," Sasami confirmed.
"We're dating," Ash added. The household exploded in cheers while Katsuhito was at the shrine in peace.
"Something joyous has occurred," he muttered. Washu hugged Ash and Sasami.
"I'm proud of both of you!" she cheered. "Oh, this is a great night!" Ash and Sasami hugged Washu back. Ayeka also hugged Ash and Sasami.
"Sasami, I doubt you'll regret it!" she cried. While Ash and Sasami were now boyfriend and girlfriend, something else in space was coming.
"The goddess Tsunami has been located," an old man mentioned.
"It has, Doctor Clay," a younger man confirmed. "Do you want to pursue?"
"The power of the goddess is part of the plan, especially since ruling everything is a united goal. Now, where is the goddess, Kagato?"
"Sensors last saw her on Earth."
"Hundreds of light years away… Let's proceed." A new spaceship had taken off. In the virtual room, Ash, Sasami, Pikachu and Ryo-Ohki slept together as a new relationship had begun. Dangers were coming.
TO BE CONTINUED,,,