The TENCHI Chronicles Chapter 4 - Adjustment and Celebration A Tenchi Muyo fanfiction by Michael "Brazil" Borgwardt (brazzy {at} gmail {dot} com) revised final version as of December 4th, 1998 Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki and its characters are copyrighted by AIC/Pioneer. I don't have any right to do this but I did it anyway. The rights to this story, however, are mine. Please don't sell it and don't change it without asking for my permission. If you haven't read the previous chapters, you should do so. They can be found at this URL: http://fanfiction.brazils-animeland.de A short summary of what happened so far: Tenchi has told Ryoko and Aeka about his true feelings and that he is not in love with them like they think. Both of them don't take this easily. They get royally drunk together and suffer from a really bad hangover on the next morning. They blame it on Tenchi and (with the help of Washu and Sasami) they take revenge by faking their suicides. Tenchi is very, very upset and gets very angry at them. After realizing how much it hurt him, the girls apologize to him. The next day, Mihoshi comes back from a visit home and Tenchi has a very teary and emotional talk with her. *********************************** The ritual usually brought Aeka peace, but not this morning. Perhaps it was because of the overcast sky in which the sun only appeared as a pale glow. It certainly matched Aeka's mood. He'd only done it to humor her. Only Mihoshi had received her embrace of Tenchi's free will. In a way, Mihoshi seemed closer to Tenchi's heart than Aeka or Ryoko. On the other hand, Tenchi *had* looked relieved when Mihoshi had said that she wouldn't claim his heart. Of course. It meant one person less who would eventually be hurt by his decision. Pondering this essential question, Aeka realized that she wasn't really sure what it *was* that Tenchi wanted, not anymore. She had gotten some glimpses in the past days, but her beloved's true feelings, wishes and dreams were a mystery to her. And that after living with him for over a year now. The ritual forgotten, Aeka watched a dragonfly dance over the lake as she resolved to do something about this lack of understanding. ----------------------------------- "Hello, Tenchi-sama!" Tenchi turned around, surprised. He hadn't noticed her approach. Of course, Aeka was the quietest person he knew, at least when Ryoko was not around. "Oh, hello Aeka-san. What's up?" Then he saw the box she was carrying. "Is Sasami-chan busy? Or why..." Tenchi asked while he set down the half-full basket with carrots that he'd been carrying on his back. "No, but I asked her to let me deliver it." "And Ryoko let you do that?" Tenchi asked, his expression a mix of hope and suspicion. That hurt. "Not exactly," Aeka admitted. "She wasn't around at that time. She'll probably come here once she finds out." They sat down in the shade of an apple tree next to the field and Tenchi began to eat. Aeka watched him, uncertain about how to approach the subject. "You... came here for a reason, didn't you?" Aeka looked down. Was it good or bad that he could tell that? Not important, she decided. "Yes. I came to... to ask you..." Tenchi waited, but she seemed unable to continue. "Ask me what?" "what... what you want me to do." She looked up and saw the questioning expression on his face. she thought. "I mean after what you said last week... I know that you don't want me to fight with Ryoko-san and care more about your needs. But I don't really know what those are! What do you want me to do? What can I do to please you?" Tenchi pondered this as he dug into Sasami's delicious sashimi, gracious that Aeka gave him some time to think this over. She had him there. He wasn't really sure what he really wanted, just not... "You're still... not approaching this right, Aeka-san. At the moment, I just want some peace. I just want to lead a quiet and relaxed life together with my friends. I like you, all of you, a lot, but..." He looked at Aeka pointedly, to make sure she understood that this included her, but what he saw was only desparation. Not what he'd hoped for. "That's not enough for you, is it?" Aeka shook her head silently. Sensing her pain, Tenchi sighed miserably. Why did he have to hurt someone so much, just by saying the truth? "I'm very sorry, but... that will have to be enough, for now. Can't you see it as a chance? You and Ryoko don't have to fight. Neither of you is *losing* me or anything!" There was another long pause during which Tenchi finished off the sashimi and the rice and looked at the taiyaki, his usual enthusiasm about the dessert totally gone. "But I can't win either, can I?" "Aeka-san, this isn't a war. I'm not going to marry the girl who's best at cutting out her rivals, nor the one who is the best actor. I'm not going to marry anytime soon, period. I'm way too young to even start thinking about that! But when I do, I will marry my wife because of what she is, not because of what she tries to be. Can't you just let it rest?" Aeka hung her head in disappointment. This wasn't how she had imagined the conversation to go. But the she forced herself to a little smile. "I guess you can't really understand until you have been in love yourself. But you're right, it will have to do. I'll try to remember this and act accordingly." Tenchi rewarded her with a very relieved smile. she thought. But then Aeka told herself that Tenchi now probably wouldn't anymore hesitate to fend off and scold the demon-woman when she became too obtrusive. And to be honest, Aeka herself would be glad if the fighting stopped. Some of the things Ryoko said hurt a lot, though Aeka would never admit that to anyone. More importantly, after a fight, she was often very upset at how much she herself had lost control and how improper her *own* behaviour had been. At home, most of Aeka's outbursts would have earned her severe punishment from her father. After a minute, Aeka's silence began to scare Tenchi a bit. He tried to think of something comforting and encouraging to say. "I'm really glad that we had this talk, Aeka-san. It seems like it really had to get worse before getting better." Aeka raised an eyebrow. "You mean this is 'better'?" "Well, yes. Certainly better than you and Ryoko-san fighting all the time and never listening to me at all." It confirmed Aeka's worst suspicions. <*That* is how it looked like to him? As if I didn't actually care about him?> It made a horrible kind of sense. And Aeka's efforts hadn't stopped there. She hang her head low. The world she had lived in until last week had been much more pleasant. But now she knew that that world had been just an illusion. "I guess it really is better..." The rest of the meal was spent in awkward silence. Finally, Tenchi rose. "Tell Sasami-chan that it was delicious, as always." "When do you think you'll come home?" Tenchi looked at the fields and tried to estimate how long it would take. "Maybe two hours, I'd say. Three at most. I just hope there isn't another 'surprise' waiting for me when I come home." he added, grinning. "Tenchi-sama! You *know* that I won't do anything like that anymore! Nor will Ryoko, for that matter." Aeka replied, sightly offended. "Just checking. Well, I'll see you then." "Good bye, Tenchi-sama." It was a rather pensive princess who made her way back to the house. An easy answer telling her what to do and say had probably been too much to ask. But it *was* frustrating. The only thing she could do was - nothing at all. A harsh voice ended Aeka's reflections. "Hey, princess!" "Oh, Ryoko-san. What took you so long?" Somehow that seemed to make Ryoko angry. She flew closer and pointed accusingly at Aeka. "Don't you try to take away my initiative! What did you do with Tenchi?" Aeka sighed. . "I brought him his lunchbox and we talked a bit. I left him to do his work and now I'm here." Ryoko was, of course, not satisfied. "What did you talk about?" The princess hesitated. What if she just made up something? Ryoko would probably keep pestering Tenchi and maybe he'd get angry at her and then... No, Aeka reminded herself. That was exactly the line of thinking that Tenchi had told her was wrong. Suddenly, Aeka became aware that Ryoko was waving a hand in front of her face. "Yo-hoo, Earth to Aeka, do you read me?" Annoyed and slightly embarassed, the princess pushed away the pirate's hand and started again walking back towards the house. It was only sensible, but it still went against her instincts... "I asked him how he wanted us to behave. You know, because of last week and everything..." This took Ryoko by surprise. "You did? What did he answer?" Aeka too a deep breath. "He said that he's much to young to get married. So since he's not going to make a decision soon, we should stop worrying about losing him to each other. And he said that we shouldn't try to win him by acting like something we are not." Ryoko smirked. "Not what you wanted to hear, ne?" "Not exactly," Aeka agreed as she looked at the girl floating next to her. "But the idea does have its merits. I mean I'd like it if we didn't have to argue all the time..." The demoness linked her hands in her neck and looked at the clouds, considering this for a minute "I'm not sure. If we didn't argue at all, would't it get pretty boring around here?" Aeka couldn't help but laugh. "As boring as last Saturday?" Ryoko grinned. "You have a point there. I guess we'll have to try it anyway. By the way, when is Tenchi going to be finished with the fields?" "Two to three hours. Why do you ask?" "Guess." "Ryo-ohki out of carrots?" The furry spaceship's mistress grinned. "Right. And the furball makes sure that I feel every growl of her little stomach." ----------------------------------- As Aeka had noticed correctly, there was little boredom to be found where extraterrestrial princes and princesses, a former space pirate, a galactic policewoman and the greatest scientist of the universe lived together. However, life in the house did change, in a way that was welcomed by all. The former rivals discovered that they could indeed tolerate each other's company (though both were swift to deny that they ever enjoyed it). They discovered that they liked the same TV shows. Different aspects of them, of course. One of their favourites told the tale of a woman who lead the life of a man, at the dawn of a new era, when an outdated system of society was going down, desparately defended by people whose power and more depended on it and who would not let go of that power peacefully. Nobuyuki (who knew the story) took the necessary precautions, which consisted mainly of ensuring that a sufficient stock of tissues was maintained. Together, princess and pirate watched the big events unfold, were horrified at the needless death of a child, and cheered as the heorine abandoned her orders in favor of her conscience. And then an escape didn't go as it had been planned and a soldier was hit by a bullet. "Oh no!" gasped Aeka, watching in rapt fascination as the man collapsed, his hand outstreched towards his love, and the episode ended. "It can't be! Not now! Not after they..." Ryokos lips formed into a feral grin. "After they what? Say it, princess!" Aeka blushed furiously. "You know what..." The demoness wasn't shaken off that easily "You bet I do! But you *can't* say it, can you?" "How can you be so tactless, now that he is dying?!" Ryoko stifled a mock-yawn. "Bah, that's just for dramatic effect. He'll survive it. The good guys always do. Especially after they... Well, *can* you say it?" "Why should I *want* to?" Aeka asked nervously. That opening was all Ryoko needed. She chuckled. "How do you expect ever to win Tenchi when you can't even *name* the important parts!" "Of course I can!" "Prove it!" "They..." Ryoko put her hand to her ear and leaned towards the other girl. "I can't hear you!" "They admitted their love!" That was it for Ryoko, and she toppled over, shaking with roaring laughter. After some seconds she found enough composure to straighten herself. "And you honestly believe... that's *all* they did? she snorted. "I mean, the pictures didn't leave much to the imagination, did they?" The princess could take it no more. "You're impossible!" She stood up and left the room. "And I have to go shopping with Sasami anyway!" "Just make sure don't miss the grand finale next week. Half an hour earlier, two episodes, remember?" "A princess of Jurai is *always* punctual!" And so they were there a week later, and watched the thorn-wrapped female silhouette announcing the beginning of the story's conclusion. The first box of tissues went quickly as Ryoko's prediction proved false, the physicians admitted defeat and the heroine's wail of loss resounded over the assembled people. They finished the second box while the grief-stricken woman lost herself in visions of better days and witnessed a child fulfill her father's wish, sending his body on its last journey. Finally, a mighty fortress fell. The event would be remembered for centuries to come. Not so (probably because she had never existed) the young woman who lay dying in a back-alley, accompanied only by a few friends, parting easily with a life that couldn't anymore give her the one thing she craved most. Weeping without restraint, the two girls did away with the third box and paid little attention as on the screen, the fate of the survivors and the utter failure of their dreams and ideals was told. Aeka was the first to regain coherent speech. "Oh... *sniff* I'm so moved... That was so... so sad!" Ryoko, her face still wet from the tears she'd shed, shook her head. "So... stupid! They waited for all those years, just because... well, for no real reason at all! So much time they could have..." Aeka padded her companion's shoulder. "They had that one night, at least..." Ryoko jumped up angrily. "But I *don't* want just one night! I want to *enjoy* my life and my love! Damn, why does Tenchi have to stall like this?" Aeka glared at her, now angry herself because Ryoko had broken their new unwritten rule of not claiming Tenchi in any way when speaking to each other. "Stop worrying, Ryoko-san! Both of us will live much longer than any Earth-born person, and there isn't any kind of war going to happen *here*. The handfull of years till Tenchi-sama feels ready to... make a commitment... really don't matter to us, do they?" Ryoko sighed. "I guess you're right. Still..." ----------------------------------- "To sum it up: with the approach of the warm-weather front, Shikoku and southern Honshu are in for some last days of premium summer weather over the weekend, while the Kanto region will get a good deal of clouds and rain. I really envy you guys in the south! I hope you enjoy it." "Thanks, Seiji. And now, after the break we'll--" Tenchi switched off the TV. "All right, Sasami-chan! You couldn't have chosen a better occasion. The weather'll be perfect for a picnic." Sasami giggled. "I didn't choose it, silly! This Saturday is the second anniversary of the day you met Ryoko-oneechan and my sister and I arrived on Earth!" Tenchi's mouth gaped. "Uh... really?". Nobuyuki was close to crying. "*Tenchi*! How could you forget? The day that changed our lives forever! The day you became a man!" "Oh, lay off already, dad!" Tenchi made a mental note to ask his father what exactly he meant with 'became a man', but definitely not now, in front of Sasami. "So, do you have a particular place in mind for the picninc, Sasami-chan?" Sasami shrugged. "Not really. Do you have an idea, Tenchi-niichan? Maybe we could go to the onsen again... the spot we had for Hanami was just about perfect." Tenchi frowned. "That's a bit far away for a picnic. What about the meadows around the creek that feeds our lake? "I don't think I've been there yet, but if-" Sasami was interrupted by Nobuyuki's hand on her should. Tenchi's father suddenly had an incredibly intense expression and *real* tears in his eyes. "Yes, Tenchi. That's a... perfect spot. We will go there." Sasami blinked, a bit confused. Then she smiled and turned towards the door to the porch. "It's settled then. I'll go and tell the others!" Suddenly, Tenchi was alone with his father. He cleared his throat. "Um, Dad... what's up with you?" Nobuyuki sighed heavily, then sat down next to Tenchi and put an arm around his son. He then paused for a while. Tenchi was starting to *really* get worried when his father spoke. "You see, son... that reminded me of another picnic I had in that exact place. It was also a beautiful summer day. Your grandfather was there, my parents, your mother and me. We were celebrating the third anniversary of our marriage..." ----------------------------------- "And another toast to my son and his beautiful wife!" "Oh Dad, *please*! At this rate you'll be drunk before noon and we won't have any sake left!" "Come on, you can't blame your father for being happy on this day!" Everyone laughed as they watched Nobuyuki and his father struggle for sovereignty over the sake bottle. When they had calmed down, Achika cleared her throat. "Please listen, everyone. There's something I have to tell you." She breathed in deeply. She'd dreaded this moment, but delaying it any more would just make it worse. The others were looking quite curious now. Taking another deep breath, Achika began. "Well, it's... Next year, we will have one more guest for the anniversary, because... because I'm two months pregnant!" There was a second of shocked silence as her family grasped this, then Nobuyuki rushed towards his wife and gathered her in an almost painfully intense embrace, whispering "Achika-chan..." into her ear. He then pulled back a bit and looked her in the eyes, his face so full of joy that all her insecurities were swept away. She leaned forward and kissed him deeply. Meanwhile, Nobuyuki's mother had a hard time trying to restrain her husband who kept going "Oh my son, you make me so proud! Imagine, dear! Grandchildren!" Katsuhito watched all this quietly, though if Ryoko had watched them on that day, she'd have noticed that he, too was wearing a very big silly smile. When everyone had calmed down a bit, Nobuyuki asked suspiciously "Achika-chan, for how long have you known it?" She blushed with embarassment. "Almost two weeks." she admitted. "I *knew* that something was up! Why did you keep it a secret for so long, you slick devil?" He lovingly brushed her cheek, making it clear that he wasn't really offended. The couple's parents watched them with great amusement. They were quite aware that at the moment, their children's world was just big enough for two people and an expectation. "Well, the do-it-yourself tests aren't very reliable, so I wanted to make sure and wait for the doctor's result first and then we were already planning this picnic and it was such a perfect occasion, so I..." He gently put a finger on her lips, silencing her and then once more pulled her into a tight embrace. "I love you too" she whispered. ----------------------------------- "And then... well, we *really* had something to celebrate that day." Nobuyuki looked at his son, acknowledging his surroundings for the first time in several minutes. Tenchi was very silent. He didn't get to see this side of his father very often. By an unspoken agreement, they both usually avoided to talk about Tenchi's mother. The memories hurt too much, even after all this time. But... Tenchi wondered. "Tenchi, that was perhaps the happiest day in my life. It would be wonderful to have the picnic there, now that we have such a big family. I'll finish work early tomorrow and make preparations. And you'll do the same here. We'll make this the best picnic anyone has ever had! Right, son?" "Right, Dad!" Tenchi grinned. Suddenly, Nobuyuki also broke out into a very wide grin. One of the kind Tenchi had learned to dread. "And maybe we're lucky and one of your girlfriends also has an announcement to make!" "DAAAD!" "Hey, you can't blame your old man for hoping!" "Just *cut it out* already, will you? There's no chance of... of... *that* happening anytime soon!" Nobuyuki's expression turned a bit serious. "Would it be so terrible if it did?". Tenchi sighed. "Dad, you don't-" Suddenly they heard the front door being shoved open powerfully. A few seconds later, a very out-of-breath Mihoshi raced into the room, grabbed the TV remote control, fell down ony the couch and pressed some buttons. Only when a familiar eerie melody filled the room did the detective allow herself to relax and catch her breath. "Whew... just in time... I'd already thought I'd missed it..." Then she produced her notebook and a pen. Tenchi and Nobuyuki left the room, knowing that for the next hour it would be filled with chirps of "Oh, this is *so* educational!!". Nobuyuki had a tendency to burst into wild bouts of laughter whenever he heard it, but he always refused to answer when anyone asked him what it was that he found so funny. ----------------------------------- Ryoko was sitting in the upstairs living room, slouching on one of the giant carrots and looking at the reflection of the mountains in the lake. She wasn't happy. Why did they have to hold the picnic *there* of all places? After her release from the cave, she had very, very carefully probed the reality of her freedom. Because of her first disasterous encounter with Tenchi, her predominant emotion was - fear. Of doing something wrong. She hadn't had to make any decisions for the last 700 years, and very few before that time. Trying to make up her mind, Ryoko had visited the place. It hadn't looked much different than it had from the astral plane. She'd dug a few holes, but had found nothing. Her memories were the only thing that distinguished it from any other patch of forest. She had felt terrible, but it had help her make a decision. Whatever she'd do and whatever happened as a result - it would be better than *that*. She sighed. Then Ryoko noticed the footsteps of someone approaching. She had a suspicion about who it was. It turned out to be true as Washu stepped beside her. "Something bothering you, Ryoko-chan?" Ryoko cast an annoyed glance up at the little figure next to her, then shook her head. "Nothing." "Listen, Ryoko. I--" "I *don't* want to talk to you! Now please leave me alone!" Washu froze. Then she turned around slowly and went away, trying very hard not to cry. ----------------------------------- "No, you can *not* help us, Ryoko!" "But I-" Washu pointed the spoon at her daughter like a weapon. "I said *no*, and I mean it. We're busy enough as it is, and we *won't* make it if we have you blundering about in the kitchen!" Time to change the tactics, Ryoko thought. "Sasami, you said that you'd teach me cooking, didn't you?" Sasami looked up from the pot she'd been stirring. "Ryoko-oneechan, it's too late for that now. I can teach you sometime else when we have the time, but not now." Ryoko's shoulders dropped and she hovered out of the kitchen with a disappointed expression. In the living room, she met Aeka. "See? I told you it wouldn't work." "Oh, shut up!" Ryoko snapped. "There's *absolutely* no reason to be that impolite! *Hmph*!" The princess demonstratively turned away and they sulked in unison. After a while, Aeka started to get restless. She stood up and approached the kitchen. "Are you sure that you don't need my-" "NO WE DON'T!!" was the very definite answer. As Aeka turned around disappointedly, she met Ryoko's wide sneer. Aeka reacted by sticking out her tongue. Ryoko paid back in kind. Tenchi, who had been watching this from outside, had a hard time not bursting out laughing. Then he entered and cleared his throat. When he had the girls' attention he spoke up. "Aeka-san, Ryoko-san... if you're that anxious to help prepare the picninc, why don't we three go ahead with some of the heavier stuff? The others can follow us when Sasami-chan, Washu-san and Mihoshi-san are done cooking." Needless to say, the two were overjoyed at this occasion to be helpful and spend some time with Tenchi. Not being able to do anything themselves while everyone else was busy had been rather unnerving. Tenchi had just finished doing his checklist of everything that was needed for a perfect picnic. So except for the food, everything was gathered on the porch. Ryoko, the strongest of the trio, was assigned to carry the heavy battery module for the portable karaoke machine Tenchi's father had rented, as well as a big box of CDs. Tenchi carried the machine itself and Aeka got the two big blankets they would sit on. They weren't heavy but they were rather chunky, so Aeka could hardly see where she was going. ----------------------------------- "Hey Ryoko, what's the matter? You've been awfully quiet ever since we came here. What's bothering you?" Ryoko looked up from the little twig she'd been fidgeting with. "It's nothing, really." She looked down again, avoiding Tenchi's questioning gaze. "Is it still about..." Tenchi asked, an expression of pain on his face. Ryoko smiled weakly "No, not at the moment." Aeka frowned. "If you'll stay like this all day, you won't be able to enjoy the picnic, and you'll also spoil it for the rest of us. This is so much unlike you." Aeka sounding concerned? About Ryoko's mood? Tenchi almost couldn't believe his ears. But now, Ryoko sighed and... "I guess it won't hurt if I show you. Come on, this way." She started to fly towards the forest, Tenchi and Aeka followed her, giving each other curious glances. A while later, Tenchi noticed something. "The cave you were imprisoned in lies in that direction, doesn't it? What-" "No, Tenchi, we're not going there. We... ah, there it is." She accelerated suddenly and then stopped in the midst of the forest and looked around sadly. "What is it? There's just forest here." "Right. There's nothing left." Aeka was getting annoyed by Ryoko's mystery-mongering, but she sensed that this wasn't something she should make fun of. Tenchi was less sensitive. "Nothing left of what? Ryoko, please stop talking in riddles!" Ryoko looked at her friends. Aeka was shocked to see the demoness crying. "There was a village here. But there aren't even ruins left now..." Tenchi frowned. "A village? But I've never heard of it and grandpa..." "He wasn't there either. I don't know what he's been telling you, but after Yousho had sealed me in the cave, he left this area. Our battle had been impossible to miss, so he probably didn't want to be taken for a demon himself. Or he just wanted to see more of Earth." Ryoko sat down on a fallen tree. Tenchi and Aeka took the spots next to her and listened anxiously. Tenchi was seeing this side of Ryoko for the first time. Aeka had seen it before. Feeling ashamed of what she'd done then, she vowed to herself that she wouldn't say anything cruel this time. When she noticed their attention, Ryoko tried to rub away her tears in embarassment. Then she continued: "Anyway, when I learned how to see and hear the outside world, he was gone. For a long, long time I could only watch the animals and plants of the forest. You'd be amazed at how much I know about biology. And then a group of humans arrived. I don't know why they came, but they settled here, at this exact place, so close to the cave that I could sometimes watch them for hours without having to go back. They found the wards Yousho had put in the cave and seemed to decide that it was a holy place. They regularly put offerings in front of it, but they never entered, no matter how much I tried to tell them to release me. Only the very young children could actually see me." At this thought, something that was almost a smile appeared on Ryoko's tear-ridden face, but it didn't last long. "Children... It was the first time I saw... No, I'd *seen* children before, But it was the first time I understood what they are and what they mean. I saw what it means to be a child, and I knew what I'd lost - what I'd been robbed of - by never having been allowed to be a child." Aeka remembered her conversation with Ryoko in the bar and what the demoness had told of her life under Kagato. She shuddered. "I watched those people almost every day. From them I learned the language, but I also learned about love. And friendship. Other things I'd never known. For many years I watched the little village slowly grow. They had a hard life, so far away from the rest of the world. They hunted and fished in the lake Ryo-ohki's crash had caused. And they had some rice fields, just where we're holding our picnic. But they often starved. Almost every winter there were one or two deaths. So I learned about death too, what it means to people." "After a while, traders started to come, once or twice a year, to trade tools and rice for the animal skins the villagers didn't need themselves. It probably was one of them who brought the disease. First the old people got sick, then the children. The women tried everything they could think of, herbs, prayers, offerings to the gods... Nothing worked and finally the adult women and men also got sick, just when they'd started to cremate the first bodies. After a month, each and every one of them had died from some sort of fever." Ryoko had now finally lost the fight against her tears and they were running freely. Her face full of the old despair, she looked at Tenchi, whose face mirrored her own pain. "And I... I watched them die! People I had seen being born and grow up. And there was nothing I could do but watch! Nothing at all..." Finally understanding what had been upsetting Ryoko so much, Tenchi desparately tried to think of something to comfort her. He reached down and took her hand, trying to reassure her. When she suddenly leaned over and buried her face in his chest, he resisted the impulse to flee. This wasn't the usual attempt to overpower him. Ryoko needed him. He looked at Aeka pleadingly. . Relief flooded Tenchi when he saw the princess nodding her affirmation. He started to stroke Ryoko's hair lightly and then he remembered the conversation with is father a day earlier. "Ryoko, I know what it feels like to have someone you love die. When my mother died, I also wished so hard that I could somehow bring her back. But I couldn't..." Ryoko couldn't imagine how he was able to be so calm. She vividly remembered the little boy who had, after that seemingly endless emptiness, become the new focus of her life, crying about a terrible loss he was just beginning to understand. She remembered how she had again watched helpless, powerless, almost driven insane by the desire to hold him, comfort him and somehow take away the pain. And now *she* was the one being held and comforted. "That's how it is, everyone dies one day. You just have to remember the good and happy times they had... keep those memories close to your heart and hope that their spirits can see you from the afterlife and know that you remember them. And do you think they'd want to see you tearing yourself apart like this?" She held on to Tenchi, letting the intoxicating sensation of being for once so close to him flood through her and, together with his calm, strong voice, drive away the despair. And she remembered how this child had been special, how he had *not* forgotten her when he grew up, how he had returned and finally freed her from the prison. Tenchi was beginning to really get aware of Ryoko's closeness. It felt good to be there for someone like this. Very good. But he couldn't afford to lose himself in this feeling. Ryoko wasn't the only... "I have an idea. Why don't we tell this to grandpa? We can build a little memorial for those people here, with a ceremony and everything. That way, they will be remembered by other people too." Ryoko pulled back, a weak smile on her red and teary face. She sniffled and rubbed her eyes, looking a bit embarassed. "Thank you, Tenchi. This helped me a lot. And... I'm sorry that this had to happen on a day that should be one of celebration." Tenchi gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't be sorry. It couldn't be a truly happy day if you still had those thoughts burdening you. Now let's go back to the picnic and set up the karaoke machine before the others arrive, shall we?" "Yes. Go ahead, I'll stay here for a little while..." Tenchi nodded knowingly. Of course. Let's go, Aeka-san." Ryoko looked around the forest once more. A headstone for the village? It sounded like a good idea. It would feel good to have something physical to remind everyone who happened to come by that once, someone had lived here. she told her friends from so long ago. When she turned around, she noticed that Aeka was still there. The girl had a distracted look on her face, as if her thoughts were wandering rather far away. Softly, Ryoko adressed her friend. "Aeka?" "Hm?" was the ineloquent response of the princess who seemed to have totally forgotten that she was not alone. "I just wanted to... thank you too. For not interfering. I know that must have been hard. I'm not sure if I could have done the same." Ryoko started to go back to the clearing where the picnic was to be hold. Aeka followed her. "Oh. Well, don't rely on my self-control too much. But I was just thinking of something else..." Ryoko curiusly raised an eyebrow. "Something more important than being with Tenchi?" she asked teasingly. Aeka didn't take that bait. "Not exactly... but I remembered some things that Funaho-okaasama said. And I start to realize how little I understand Earth people." "what are you *talking* about, Aeka?" "About what he said to you. And how easily he could talk about... death. You see, as a member of the royal family I can expect to live over two thousand years. Normal Juraians have a shorter lifespan, but it is still several times that of an Earthling. For us, death is something that happens rarely and that one avoids thinking about. The death of a relative..." The princess found herself unable to continue that thought. She noticed that Ryoko was listening gravely. "But for him, for everyone on this planet, death is something they are almost constantly aware of, something they have learned to accept. How can I hope to understand someone whose life is so different from mine?" Ryoko considered this for a while. Then they arrived at the edge of the forest and could see Tenchi reading some booklet. He looked up and waved. Ryoko stopped and looked into Aeka's face. "Do you think it's any better for me? There is *no-one* who has had a life like I did. Not that I'd wish that on anyone. Until last week, I just tried to ignore that fact, as if it would go away if I paid no attention to it. But that's not how life works. I'll have to *learn* how to understand Tenchi, as he will have to learn to understand me. And the same is true for you, princess or not." Thoughtfully, Aeka replied "We will at least have enough time for that, till he feels old enough to consider marriage." ----------------------------------- After a while, Yousho and Nobuyuki arrived together with the other girls, all carrying baskets full of the various dishes Sasami, Washu and Mihoshi had prepared. Even Ryo-ohki was carrying a bottle of coke almost half as big as herself. After everything was set up to Nobuyuki's satisfaction (who acted just like he did when he was supervising a construction site, Tenchi noticed), Washu was the one to ask the vital question: "So, is anyone hungry yet, or do we eat later?" Nobuyuki inhaled deeply, savouring the smell coming out of a basket next to him. "I don't know about you, but this smells so good that I simply couldn't bear letting it stand around a minute longer! Besides, if we wait, we risk attracting ants. There's nothing that can ruin a picnic as totally as ants. I could tell you a few stories..." And so, while they unpacked the dishes and utensils and started to eat, Nobuyuki told the story of a Hanami festival he'd spent with colleagues that had fallen victim to the insects. "...guess you learned something from it and ate first at all your picnics from then on?" Nobuyuki chuckled at Sasami's question. "They probably did. But I missed out the next year or so because shortly afterwards, Tenchi was born and kept my wife and me busy." Then one thing lead to another and Nobuyuki, who had anticipated something like this, unwrapped the thing dreaded by every child in the universe: an album full of photos showing Tenchi as baby and toddler. Instincts as old as life itself kicked in, and for the next half hour, the little valley resounded with cries of delight from four female throats and wails of embarassment from one male one. ----------------------------------- "...basically a typical case of not being able to see something that is too close. After they grew up together and were always around each other. They were almost like brother and sister, so *of course* she didn't notice for a long time just *how* much she felt for him." Ryo-ohki, not all that interested in the photographs, had wandered off and, after finding a salamander, began to explore the aquatic and amphibian fauna of the creek with great interest. Tenchi had gladly taken this opportunity to excuse himself from the company, claiming that he had to make sure Ryo-ohki didn't get lost or fall in the creek. Mihoshi had joined them after all the photos had been fawned over. Washu had then started to discuss some political matters with Yousho, saying that she'd done some research in the history databases about the time she'd been Kagato's prisoner and that she wanted to hear the personal view of someone who'd witnessed it directly. Since his mother wasn't available, he'd have to suffice, she had told him. This left Aeka and Ryoko with Nobuyuki. Somewhow (and to the girls' great surprise) they'd ended up in an in-depth debate of the anime they had been watching. Aeka considered Nobuyuki's statements for a minute. "That sounds right, but I don't think it's a sufficient explanation. I mean, it almost seemed to me like she somehow didn't *want* to notice..." Nobuyuki nodded. "Correct, that's not all. The *other* reason is that she never could get over the feeling of inadequacy her upbringing had instilled. She tried to make her father proud by being the perfect son. Marrying a commoner was simply out of the question." Now Ryoko had found something to object to. "But her father didn't seem to mind all that much! I mean, he actually..." ----------------------------------- "... and then the officer contacted the second ship and told them that he'd have to arrest them if they entered the security zone, you know, the one that had been set up earlier to investigate the phenomenon and that should have been relocated as the asteroid moved, only somehow it wasn't because, as I said earlier the guy from operations control had forgotten to authorize the update, anyway..." Everyone was staring in unbelieving fascination at the babbling blonde. One after another they had given up the attempt to follow Mihoshi's story, their minds unable to keep up with the speed at which the words cascaded from her mouth. marvelled Tenchi. He wondered if she somehow got her air through the nose,but if he remembered his biology correctly, that was impossible. Of course, Mihoshi wasn't a human. "... so it took the forces a while till they could land on that side of the planet, and when the first vessel, a military "H'jarr"-type fighter craft manned with only three soldiers, set down and started to investigate the ship they'd chased, there was no-one in it. They only found a Mark IX learning toy from Aurelia with its powercell empty, and the ship's autopilot switched to secondary relay sleep mode!" And with this, the detective stopped and looked hopefully at her audience. However, she recieved only blank stares. Tenchi noticed a faint trace of disappointment enter Mihoshi's expression and grow quickly. He desparately tried to think of anything to say when suddenly helpless, roaring laughter erupted among them, from the throat of Washu. The little scientist was lying on her back, holding her stomach and couldn't stop laughing for several minutes while everyone looked back and forth between her and the now broadly grinning Mihoshi, trying in vain to extract any sense from their memories of Mihoshi's story. When Washu finally regained her composure, most of the others, including Mihoshi, had already lost interest and were discussing one thing or another. Only Ryoko was still looking at her mother and frowning. "Well, what can I do for my Ryoko-chan?" "You *were* just acting, right? You're not going to convince me that there was any real sense to that babble!" she snapped. Washu reacted with an over-acted expression of total devastation. "Ryoko-chan! How can you say such a thing about your *own mother*? I'm *so hurt* !" The demoness rolled her eyes. "Oh *please*!! Suddenly, her mother's act was gone as quickly as it had appeared. "Well, believe it or not, that story *did* make sense and was very funny. You just have to learn to listen better, Ryoko. Look: the point of the story... However, Washu's explanatory efforts quickly met the boundaries of her teaching skills as Ryoko's eyes glazed over with confusion. "Oh, just forget it, Washu..." The scientist frowned. "You *really* should try harder to follow when your mother is trying to explain something to you!" "Yeah, right..." snorted Ryoko and just leaned back, inadvertently placing her head on someone's chest. When she realized that it was Tenchi, she just smiled and made herself comfortable. Tenchi noticed this with mild horror, but before he could make up his mind as to what to do about it, Aeka had taken the cue and used his stomach as pillow. Expecting violence to break out every second now, Tenchi froze. Nothing happened for some time and then some more. Realizing that no-one seemed to mind the situation, Tenchi relaxed a bit. It didn't take him long to decide that in that case he didn't mind either, so he just settled back, put a spare blanket under his head and looked up at the clouds. Watching the young ones enjoy their newfound peace, Washu couldn't help smiling, but her eyes stayed sad. ----------------------------------- When lying around and relaxing had started to become boring after a while, and the first bottle of sake had been emptied, Nobuyuki suggested making use of the karaoke machine. However, after an unexpectedly skillful and much-applauded opening by him, they had trouble finding anyone willing to follow up. Due to recent experience, the two most likely candidates, Aeka and Ryoko, lacked the necessary alcohol level for doing karaoke in front of someone you'd like to impress. "Aw, come on, don't be such spoilsports! We're here to have fun, aren't we? And Tenchi-niichan's father rented this great karaoke machine, so we should use it!" Nobuyuki smiled at Sasami's concerned air, but couldn't help asking "Well, Sasami-chan, why don't *you* start out?" Suddenly, the little girl grinned in a way that should have made everyone shiver who had had previous experiences with her particular sense of humor. However, only Nobuyuki noticed it. "No, I have a better idea. We'll take turns, not singing but *choosing* who has to sing and what they have to sing!" The sake had not been completely ineffective, and so everyone agreed that this was a good idea. Since Sasami had had the idea, it was decided that she'd be the first to choose a candidate. Her choice fell on Aeka and Ryoko, and "When all else fails me", the latest top 10 hit by New CHAM. "It's a duet" Sasami remarked and grinned as she handed the lyrics sheet to the two older girls. Then she started counting and had just reached six when Aeka's howls of protest started, followed quickly by Ryoko's. "I am *not* going to sing *that*! Not with *her*!!" Aeka's forceful protest rang, immediately joined by a "My words exactly!" from Ryoko. Of course, the others wouldn't let this pass. "Don't be such chickens now!" Tenchi exclaimed. "What's so bad about that song any way?" Fuming silently, Aeka passed him the lyrics sheet and Tenchi quickly skimmed through the stanzas about a girl and her best friend, how their friendship outlives love, separation and arguments and is generally the greatest thing that could happen to anyone. He couldn't help laughing out loud. "Well, you agreed to the rules. Now it's too late to change your mind!" With the combined effort of the family, the girls were bullied into delivering the song and did so while liberally spreading around searing glances. Then, they immediately dug into the available Karaoke material on a search for an appropriate song to pay back Sasami. ----------------------------------- Much later, long after the battery had failed, night had fallen and the last bottle of sake been finished, father and son worked together at removing the last traces of the day's merriment from the clearing in the forest. Everyone else had already gone (or been carried) home. "Well, well...", Nobuyuki declared as he picked up some scraps of wrapping paper, "That certainly was a wonderful picnic today. I don't think I've had a better one since that one where Achika announced you. How did you like it?" Tenchi stopped folding together the last blanket and regarded his father. A very happy smile spread over his face and his eyes seemed to shine. "It was wonderful. Having everyone together, laughing, having fun and, for once, not arguing at all. You see Dad, sometimes they get on my nerves, make me angry. But then there are times like this, and then I'm very, very happy to have them all around and I wouldn't want it any different. It's just like one big family, and I don't want it to ever change at all!" Nobuyuki regarded with a strangely serious air. "I know, Tenchi. But you have to realize that it *can't* stay like this forever. Son, all of these girls have basically put their lives on hold because of *you*, and you can't expect that to last forever. I also love this family a lot, but it will end and you'll have to move on and start a *real* family." This was a rather unsettling experience for Tenchi. He couldn't remember his father ever having talked to him quite like this. In a way, it felt good, but it was also terrifying. "Dad... I... I know that it can't last forever. But... they are all so incredibly old, and... Uh, I didn't mean it like *that*. What I mean is, their lives are so long and what *are* a few more years to them? Is that really asking too much?" The architect lightly patted his son on the back. "No, you're probably right. Just make sure that it's really just a *few* more years. And, well, maybe it *will* actually be decided when one of them ends up pregnant!", he added with a lopsided grin. "DAAAAAD!" ----------------------------------- In the mid-afternoon of the next day, Washu had finally worked up enough courage and waited for the right opportunity. She didn't have to wait long, as Aeka had just left for a little walk with Ryo-ohki. She teleported up onto the rafter, next to Royko. Her daughter was reading... a *book*, not some shoujo manga. Washu quickly decided that it wasn't important right now and filed the information away for further usage. Ryoko looked up. "Whaddaya want, Washu?" "I'd like to talk to you." "Well, here I am." Ryoko looked back into the book. "Let's go to my lab. Please." Surprised that Washu was actually *asking* and not simply ordering her, but still suspicious, Ryoko frowned. "This isn't one of your damn games again, is it?" She was half expecting Washu to either try threatening her or make some lame joke, but the scientist stayed calm and serious. "No more games. I promise." Suddenly Ryoko felt their mental link opening a little bit, and she could feel that her mother was indeed honest about this. She also detected some traces of tangled emotions that she could hardly identify. There was anger, determination, some others. All of it mixed with... fear? Laying down the book, Ryoko pushed herself off the rafter, vanished for a second and reappeared before the door to Washu's lab, looking up at her mother. "Let's go. I don't have all day." Washu raised an eyebrow, then jumped down and entered her refuge, followed by Ryoko. After a few steps, Ryoko asked "Ok, we're inside. So what is it you want to talk about?" "Don't be so impatient, Ryoko-chan. Let's go to the tree." Ryu-oh, Aeka's space tree, had grown considerably in the last seven months. The princess tended to it very cinscientously and with much affection. She would sometimes sit there and look at it for hours. Sasami also often spent some time there. At the princesses' request, Washu had installed a comfortable bench, almost a couch, next to the tree. This was where the little scientist now headed. When they arrived, she sat down at one end of the bench and looked at her daughter pointedly. Still a bit suspicious, Ryoko glared back for a second, then shrugged and took the other end of the bench. "Well?" Looking at the tree, Washu took a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself down and sort out her emotions, but then gave up and just spat it out. "Why, Ryoko? Why do you still avoid me?" Ryoko clearly hadn't expected that. "Avoid you? What are you *talking* about?" "About Thursday, in the upstairs living room! About yesterday and Mihoshi-dono's story. Ryoko-chan, I... I *want* to be a mother to you, but why won't you let me? I thought that after... in the cave... we could... but now..." Finally at a loss for words, Washu gestured helplessly and then just looked at her daughter, a silent pleading in her eyes. Ryoko was shocked. She had *never* seen Washu like this. So helpless. So... human. Then Ryoko remembered the time, a few weeks ago, after Tenchi had made her whole world collapse with just a few words. Washu had been there for her, talked to her and provided... warmth, in a life that had suddenly seemed so cold. It had felt good to just let the tears flow, to be held by someone, even though it wasn't Tenchi. But... "Well, how *do* you expect to be come my full-time mother all of a sudden? I'm not a kid. Heck, *you* are the one who tries to bully everyone into treating you as a little child! I may not know all that much about family life, but that's certainly not how a mother acts!" Washu couldn't decide if she should laugh or cry. Was *that* really the reason why her little Ryoko refused her? She tried to remember when and why she'd started to assume this shape. 'I'd be happier as a child, never ever growing up'. That had been an impulse back then. It had worked too. Too well. Later, she'd stuck to it out of habit and because it fit her sense of humor. Ryoko's birth (she liked to call it that) should have marked the end of that much too long phase of her life, but it had resulted in disaster. This time, not she herself but the innocent newborn had gotten the worst of it. But this time, Washu had also gotten a second chance. She willed the change and felt her body grow and expand, assuming its natural shape that was now so very unfamiliar to her. "Is that what you want? Why didn't you just say so? That-" A sudden flare of great anger supplanted Ryoko's previous curiosity at her mother's strangely distant expression from before. "No, dammit! You just want to take Tenchi away from me!!" The second, and maybe the last chance. Still, it took all the determination Washu could find in her millenia-old soul. "Ryoko, you are my daughter. The person I care most for in all the universe. I will always love you, no matter what happens. And I will try to avert pain from you wherever I can. Knowing how much Tenchi means to you, I'd rather die than take him away from you." Ryoko's froze as she tried to grasp what had been offered to her. She tried to name it, but she failed. She tried to get the chaotic tumble of thoughts and emotions inside her mind under control, and failed again. When finally a question surfaced, it was only a faint whisper. "You... mean that?" Washu had anxiously watched Ryoko's face, trying not to let the terrible fear overwhelm her that, the fear it had been a mistake to open her heart and make herself vulnerable, that Ryoko wouldn't accept her, that her weakness would be laughed at and used against her. But when she heard the question and the trembling voice in which it was asked, betraying feelings so much like her own, Washu knew that her decision had been right. Time for the next step. She looked into her daughter's eyes and opened the connection completely, giving Ryoko an unveiled view of her self. It was at the same time much worse and much better than she had feared. Ryoko's unexperienced mind ruthlessly explored her memories, spending little time on any one and forcing Washu to face a lot of painful and terrible parts of her life she'd thought she'd dealt with or even forgotten. It was almost more than she could handle. But at the same time, Ryoko was with her, reliving her mother's most painful and most joyful memories, and Washu could in turn feel sympathy and understanding like she never had before. She also felt her daughter's almost desparate longing to comfort her, and that in itself was a great comfort for Washu. was the scientist's last coherent thought before she totally lost control. When she finally became aware of her surroundings again, she was clinging to Ryoko and crying like a baby. Through the haze of tears, she noticed that her daughter was also crying. Ryoko was the first to recover a while later. There was so much she wanted to tell her mother, the person she now all of a sudden knew so well. But one thing was at the top of the list "I'm so sorry, mother. I didn't know..." Washu pushed her back a bit, looked into her face and smiled warmly. "You couldn't know. And *I* am very sorry that I had to put you through this. I should have found a better solution, but..." Ryoko closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head. "No, I am glad that you did this. Glad that I now understand you, mother. Glad that we won't anymore have to run away and hide from each other." There was a little pause in which mother and daughter just looked at each other. Washu was was the first to get a bit nervous. "Well, what now?" Ryoko then remembered something. "About what you said earlier... about yesterday. Mihoshi's story. I... you see, I *really* don't want to understand it. It makes me dizzy just thinking about it!" Washu chuckled. "I know what you mean. Mihoshi-dono certainly has a unique way of storytelling. What about..." "Thursday?" Ryoko shivered. She didn't like being reminded of that. But if it helped Washu feel better... Slowly, she gave Washu an abridged, less teary version of what she'd told Tenchi and Aeka the other day. When she mentioned that conversation, Washu muttered something, that Ryoko could have sworn sounded like "Damn, you, Tenchi!". Wait... No, that was ridiculous, wasn't it? But it made more sense than anything, and... of course! She'd felt it herself, just minutes ago. Ryoko couldn't help but grin. "Washu, are you *jealous*?" Her mother blushed slightly and quickly answered, "What do you think? *Of course* I'm jealous, Ryoko! You give me hardly any attention at all, even actively avoid me, and *he* gets all he could ever want and more." At first, Ryoko had problems getting used to the unfamiliar situtaion of someone competing for *her* attention. Then she realized that she was in a much better position than Tenchi. She leaned forward and once more embraced her mother gently. "Don't worry. I love you too, Mama. And I'd like to be 'Ryoko-chan' to you." They stayed like that for a little while, as Washu fought back some more tears of happiness. Then they settled back into the couch comfortably, and talked a while about inconsequential things, both of them just enjoying the feeling of having someone to talk to in a completely relaxed way. Finally, an audible growl from Washu's stomach reminded them of the passage of time. The scientist raised an eyebrow as she noticed how late it already was. "I guess time did fly a bit... Dinner should be ready soon. Let's go, maybe we can even grab a few bites early from Sasami." As they went towards the lab's exit, Washu suddenly remembered something. "Um, Ryoko-chan, is it really okay with you if I stay this way?" Ryoko regarded the person before her, who now also *looked* much more like a mother. She considered the question for a second, then grinned. "Sure. In fact, I really want to see Tenchi's reaction!" Washu laughed. "He's cute when he squirms, isn't he?" "He sure is!" was Ryoko's answer as she closed the lab door behind her. ----------------------------------- "Hi, Ryoko-oneechan! Did you sleep well?" Ryoko smiled and answered, "Yes, thank you, Sasami!" as she took off her clothing and deposited it in the basket. She noticed that *two* others were already filled. "Is your sister also here? I don't see her." "I'm over here, Ryoko-san." said Aeka, suddenly raising her head over the rim of the pool. "Come in, the water is wonderful." "I'm coming, I'm coming" Slowly, enjoying every second, Ryoko slid into the water and sighed blissfully. But her mind quickly returned to the problem at hand. Somehow, Aeka's presence bugged her. On the other hand, she was also a bit angry at herself for feeling like that. "Is something the matter, Ryoko-oneechan? You're so quiet!" "Well... yes. There's something I'd like to ask you... both of you." "What is it, Ryoko-san?" Ryoko gestured nervously. "Ah... I'm not sure how to put it..." The two princesses of Jurai looked at each other in confusion at this very uncharacteristical behaviour of the demoness. "Well, we won't be able to answer if you can't ask a question..." Sasami finally said, trying to be helpful. Ryoko took a deep breath and forced herself to talk. "I've been wondering... What does having a mother mean?" "Huh??" was all Aeka could say. Sasami didn't even manage that much. "You see, I've never had one. And now suddenly there is Washu. I'm not sure how to deal with that. So I thought that maybe you could tell me..." Aeka tried to come up with an answer to this. Tried to imagine never having had a mother and then meeting a complete stranger who suddenly wanted to fill that gap. Sure, sometimes she hated the childish antics her own mother still expected of her. But... While she was still thinking of something to say, Sasami spoke. "Your mother is the first other... person you know. And she always stays the most important one. Having a mother means having someone to talk to, always, and about *everything*. Well, almost everything. Aeka nodded slowly. "And your mother always loves you, no matter what happens, no matter what you do." "Yes. I remember that time when Mommy had given me this beautiful rare flower for birthday, the one I'd seen on our trip to Korodo. I'd wanted it so much and kept talking of it till Mommy gave it to me, and she said that it was really expensive and that I'd have to take very good care of it. And then I forgot to water it and it died. I was so frightened that Mommy would be mad at me! I tried to hide the pot with the dead flower, but she found it anyway and it had tipped over and made a big mess in my closet. I was frightened and crying and thought that she'd hit me!" At this point, a warm smile spread over Sasami's face. "But Mommy just held me and dried my tears and wasn't mad at all! She just said that it wasn't my fault even though it was. And she even bought me another flower." The little girl got a faraway, slightly sad expression. "I guess it isn't there anymore, not after seven hundred years." Aeka smiled at her little sister. "I am certain that there will be an appropriate replacement when we come home. Mother always remembers such details. At least when she's not excited. Which reminds me..." The princesses told several such small anecdotes about their mother, most of them strongly tinged with homesickness. Then Aeka realized that they had been practically ignoring the third person in the bath. She looked guiltily at Ryoko, who was watching them silently and with an unreadable expression. "Ryoko-san, I'm sorry! Here we're talking and talking about our mother and you... I mean you didn't have all that... I'm sorry!" Ryoko blinked, as if shaking off some sort of trance. She shook her head. "No, please go on. I don't mind. You see, I've had a talk with Washu. And she... I think maybe she still can be all this for me...." Sasami smiled brightly, grabbed Ryoko's hand and squeezed it tightly. "Oh, I'm so happy for you, Ryoko-oneechan!" Aeka nodded her agreement "Yes, that's wonderful. Congratulations, Ryoko-san!" That at least was something she could in no way envy her rival. ----------------------------------- Time proceeded, the trees lost their leaves and the days grew shorter. Yousho bought a block of granite with the proper inscription, and Ryoko and Tenchi moved it into the forest where the memorial was consecrated by Yousho. The approaching winter found a very different situation in the lakeside house. On top of the much more harmonious relationship between each other, Ryoko and Aeka found that Tenchi was a lot less hesitant to accept and even give small gestures of affection, now that he didn't anymore have to fear that they would be immediately reinterpreted into a marriage proposal. Washu's changed appearance had at first been met with great nervousness by Tenchi, but Ryoko's explanations quickly soothed his fear. In fact, the scientist and her daughter were now often seen together, teaming up against Aeka and Sasami in the first snowball battle of the season, practicing little songs and poems with Ryo-ohki and even working together on some projects in Washu's laboratory. Ryoko and Aeka had also started regular cooking lessons with Sasami, which caused many a surprise (not always pleasant ones, though) at dinnertime. All in all, it looked like everything could only continue to improve. Unfortunately, this expectation was proven wrong as one day, Washu raced out of her lab, only half an hour after she'd left the breakfast table. Great worry was etched into her face. "Everyone, come to my lab *immediately*! Where's Tenchi-dono?" Sasami looked up in confusion from the recipe book she'd been browsing. "He just went upstairs..." Washu looked around feverishly. "Then go and bring him to my lab. Ryoko-chan, you get Yousho-dono, and be quick about it! Everyone else, come with me!" Ryoko, scared by her mother's deadly serious tone and expression, simply nodded and vanished. Sasami raced up the stairs. Washu already started towards the lab door. "What are you waiting for, girls? Come *on*!" Very confused, Aeka, Mihoshi and Ryo-ohki followed the scientist. "What's happened, Washu-san? Why are you so upset?" "I'll explain when everyone is assembled. Oh, Mihoshi-dono, do you have your control cube with you? Good, give it to me." She led the girls to the main computer console in the center of the laboratory, where she placed Mihoshi's cube in a perfectly-fitting slot and started typing and calling up information at a speed that made Aeka dizzy. Shortly afterwards, Sasami arrived with Tenchi. Washu still ignored all questions until Ryoko and Yousho arrived. Then she turned around and, looked at all the curious faces and took a deep breath. "You want to know why I brought you here? Okay." She gestured at the computers. "When I came here after breakfast, I found my comm systems operating at the brink of overload. It took me a full 30 minutes to get an overview. I just crosschecked with the GP channels and though they also are in complete disorder, they seem to confirm the information." "Basically, there is a war going on. Not one of the small conflicts that are always flaring up somewhere, but a really big one. Tonight, within a time frame of less than theee hours, practically all important civilized star systems have started to report massive attacks." Washu paused for a second, and immediately chaos broke loose as everyone tried to ask their questions louder than everyone else. "BE QUIET!!" In the ensuing shocked silence, Yousho asked calmly. "Washu-san, *who* exactly is attacking whom?" "I don't have any idea. As I said, all systems and confederations that have a sufficiently large military to even dream of mounting an attack on this scale are reporting attacks themselves and accusing their neighbors of agression. Even more interesting is the notable absence of the usual war propaganda. *No-one* is claiming to have acted in self-defence, making a justified preemptive strike against the traitorous ScreeWee, or any such nonsense." Yousho frowned. "But couldn't the attackers be identified?" "No. The attacking vessels are highly heterogenous. There have been identifications reported, ranging from everything between an old Mark IXX GP fighter craft up to a Thelosian cruiser. But the IDs were only visual and are probably pure coincidence. And there has been no confirmed communication whatsoever with the attackers. They only periodically broadcast a message in several languages, demanding unconditional surrender." Once more, everyone tried to ask questions at once. Once more, Yousho silenced them, except for Mihoshi wo continued to sob. Washu bit her lower lip and continued. "Yes, I'm afraid. Jurai, Kizaka and the GP headquarters... are all under attack. Jurai and the GP are still fighting, despite heavy losses. Kizaka... surrendered about an hour ago after their fleet was destroyed almost completely." This produced a wail from Mihoshi. "My... my family! What has happened to them?" Washu went over to the detective and offered her a hanky she produced from a subspace portal, then lay a reassuring hand on the girl's trembling shoulder. "Mihoshi, none of them is in the military, right? So they are alive. And due to the surrender, they are out of danger for now." Mihoshi almost immdiately looked a lot better. But before Washu could say anything else, Aeka interrupted them. "Washu-san, we don't have *any* time to lose! Jurai is under attack, and Tsunami, our most powerful ship is here, useless! We must leave immediately!" "Tsunami says she agrees." Everyone stared at Sasami in surprise. The little girl looked at her sister. "She just contacted me, and she agrees with you." Decisions were made quickly, and three hours later, a little convoi consisting of Tsunami, Ryo-ohki, Mihoshi's GP patrol ship and Aeka's new Ryu-oh on its first flight, left the Earth for Jurai. When he came home, Nobuyuki found only a short note from Tenchi, telling him where and why everyone had left, promising him a quick return, and ending with the words: "In love, your son Tenchi" ----. ----.`` / ******* | | \ ****** __/ __/ \ ( To be continued... ) Eh-heh. Am I mean or what? Though I'm not sure if this beats Happosai's cliffhanger in Aikan Muyo 10. I can only hope that my next chapter will be as satisfying as his... Unfortunately it's almost certain that it will also take me as long. It seems fitting to dedicate this to my own mother. I just hope she never finds out :) Thanks go to my pre-readers Happosai, K'thardin and Blasius Riz. My main motivation for writing this was my firm belief that it would do both Washu and Ryoko a world of good if they managed to come to terms with each other. And of course I had to logically continue the "new" relationship between Ryoko, Aeka and Tenchi. A quick guide to Japanese formd of adress: "-san" : The standard polite form of adressing someone you're not too familiar with. "-chan" : A very familiar form, used with children and among people who know each other intimately. More often used for girls. "-kun" : Slightly less intimate, sometimes used between colleagues, but almost exclusively for men. "-sama" : Extremely polite and respectful, even obsequious. "-dono" : Also very respectful, but used among equals, e.g. samurai. Further explanations: Hanami is the festival of cherry blossom watching, which is a very important social event in Japan. We have seen the Tenchi cast celebrate it at the end of episode 9 of the OAV series. Tayaki are little pancakes filled with a sweet bean paste. They are a popular Japanese dessert and very yummy. Sashimi is raw fish, unlike Sushi which always includes rice but not necessarily fish. If you know which show Ryoko and Aeka were watching, consider yourself an accomplished anime expert. For those who didn't get it: it is called "Berusayu no Bara" (The Rose of Versailles), an anime classic. The TV series from the 70ies is based on a manga by Riyoko Ikeda and tells of the life of Oscar de Jarjayes, a fictional woman being raised as a man and playing important role at the French court shortly before the French Revolution. As you can see, the laste couple of episodes are real tear-jerkers. If you also noticed the EVA reference and the other two anime references then you REALLY deserve the title "otaku" (in the most positive meaning of the word). Finally, as always, C&C of any kind is very welcome. Mail me at brazzy {at} gmail {dot} com