Tenchi didn't really know what finally caused her to wake
up. Gentle hands had cared for her, wiping the fever sweat away from
her brow as she healed, quiet voices speaking to her. But it was one
voice that had pulled her back, that and the soft sound of tears.
Ryouko sat in the chair beside the bed, her face buried in
her hands as her shoulders shook. "If she doesn't recover," she
mumbled softly, "I don't know what I'll do..."
"Hey," Tenchi croaked out, her voice rough from long disuse.
"Tenchi!" Ryouko all but threw herself on the bed, hugging
the dark haired, pale looking young woman close to her.
"Oww," Tenchi hissed in pain, and Ryouko eased back. Tenchi
smiled at her weakly and asked, "How long was I out?"
"Four days," Ryouko smiled at her, her own eyes still
shining with tears. She reached up to wipe at her eyes, "It's been a
hectic few days."
Tenchi levered herself up in her bed, getting into a sitting
position. "What happened after we beat Kagato?" she asked, wondering
if there were some other emergency to deal with.
"You beat, you mean," Ryouko said firmly. She chuckled
softly as she leaned back in the chair, "It seems that Kagato and
his ship Soja were connected somehow. When you cut him in half, you
cut the ship, too."
Tenchi paled. "You're kidding."
"No," Ryouko shook her head with a smile, "I grabbed you up
off the floor and we all bolted for Mihoshi's cruiser. That, along
with the fact that Ayeka called her ship to pick us up, got us all
off the ship just before it blew."
"So how's out patient doing today?" the cheerful voice asked
as a short red headed woman came into Tenchi's view. She looked like
a child, but her glance was piercing, far more mature than her
appearance indicated.
"Fine," Tenchi blinked getting the oddest feeling she had
seen her before. Giving up on her memory she finally just
plaintively looked over at Ryouko.
"Tenchi Masaki," Ryouko had a slightly wry smile on her face
as she gestured to the little red head, "I'd like you to meet my
mother, Washu."
"Your mother?" Tenchi blurted.
"I know," Washu beamed, "I'm young looking for my age, it's
my curse." She paused, giving Tenchi a much more serious look, "You
were a very ill young woman there for awhile. Ryouko hasn't left
your side for days."
Tenchi looked up at Ryouko, taking her hand and squeezing it
gently in her own. "Thank you," she murmured softly.
Washu smiled to herself slightly as she slipped out of the
room. 'Tenchi cares for her,' she thought, 'good.' She made her way
down the hall, entering the living room and smiling at the crowd
gathered there. "Tenchi's awake," she reported.
Mihoshi burst into tears, the dusky blonde throwing her arms
around the startled Washu. "I'm so glad," she wept, "I knew you
could help her!"
Ayeka quickly rose from her seat, then the dark purple
haired princess hesitated. "Is Ryouko in there with her?" she asked.
At Washu's nod Ayeka smiled slightly, "Then let's give them some
time to be alone together."
"Thank you for telling us Washu," Grandfather rose with a
little smile, "I'll go phone her father Nobuyuki and let him know
that Tenchi is all right." As he passed by Ayeka he softly asked
her, "Could I speak with you?"
"Of course," Ayeka fell into step behind him.
Grandfather made the call, quietly relaying the good news
and listening with a slight smile to his son-in-law's happy babble.
Setting the phone down in it's cradle he gave his sister a
thoughtful look. "Are you.." he started to ask.
"I'm going home to Jurai," Ayeka nodded gracefully. Her eyes
narrowed slightly, "I will be back, however. Maybe in a few years
Tenchi will see through that mummy-girl..." She smiled a bit
sadly, "And I'd like to leave this situation with some grace."
"I'm sorry you won't be staying," the older man admitted.
Ayeka looked up at him sadly, "You know, you could come back
to Jurai with us. I'm sure our Mothers and Father would be glad to
see you."
Yosho shook his head, "This is my home, now." A slightly sad
smile, "And I'd rather have them remember me as I was, rather than
what I look like now."
Ayeka reached up. wiping tears from her eyes. "I'll miss
you, brother," she cried as she threw her arms around his waist,
feeling those warm arms wrap around her gently.
From the living room Ryouko's irritable voice could be
heard, "You know you really shouldn't be out of bed yet!"
Tenchi's reply was tinged with amusement, "I've been on my
back for a few days. That means I'm more than rested up, thank you."
Ayeka smiled wryly at that noisy exchange before gently
slipping free from her brother's warm grasp. "Shall we," she nodded
towards the living room. Yosho didn't answer her aloud, he just fell
into step beside right her. As they walked in they say Tenchi
sitting down on the couch, surrounded by the other ladies.
"I'm glad you're feeling better Tenchi," Sasami beamed. She
bounced to her feet, "Do you want some soup or something?"
"Just soup from now," Washu quickly corrected her, "we need
to go easy on my daughter-in-law's stomach until she gets her
strength back."
"I'll be right back," Sasami bounced off to the kitchen.
"Daughter-in-law?" Mihoshi beamed as she looked at Tenchi
and Ryouko, "Don't tell me you tied the knot without telling us!"
Tenchi's cheeks went red as she unconsciously reached out to
take Ryouko's hand, "I.. we haven't actually done anything just yet."
Ayeka felt a sharp burst of pain, closing her eyes against
the sight. When she opened them up again she met Mihoshi's curious
gaze, the girl looking over at her worriedly. A blush appeared on
the officer's cheeks, and she looked away from Ayeka nervously.
"I'm glad," Grandfather's voice was dryly amused, "I'd
rather not see you elope."
"Don't be such an old stick in the mud," Washu slapped him
on the back heartily, nearly knocking him right over.
Ayeka stepped up beside Ryouko and Tenchi, noting with some
amusement that Sasami was nearly spooning the bowl of soup right
into Tenchi's mouth. "I hate to have to say this now," Ayeka said to
Tenchi, "but Sasami and I are going to need to return to Jurai soon."
Tenchi fended off Sasami a moment, "Are you sure? If you
want to stick around a bit I'm sure no one would mind."
Ayeka shook her head, "I've accomplished what I came here to
do, I found my elder brother." She gave Grandfather a slight
smile, "And I'm sure our parents would want to hear such joyous news
from me in person."
Sasami looked a bit disappointed at the news but still
nodded slightly, "Big sister's right."
"When you leaving?" Ryouko asked.
Ayeka gave her a suspicious look, "Tomorrow afternoon."
"I'll be there to see you off," Ryouko said firmly.
Tenchi nodded firmly, "We all will."
Ayeka nodded, an intentionally regal gesture, then with a
more honest smile said, "Thank you, both of you." She then left the
room silently, but wasn't too surprised to have Mihoshi leave the
living room to quickly catch up with her. "Yes?" she asked, giving
the officer a slight smile as they walked on together.
The two of them soon stepped outside on to the porch,
looking out at the shrine buildings all around them. "When you go
tomorrow," Mihoshi said softly, "I'd like to accompany you in my
cruiser. It isn't as safe as it once was to travel, and I'd feel
better shadowing you."
Ayeka looked over at the Galaxy Police officer, and noticed
the dusky skinned blonde wasn't meeting her eyes. "I'd be glad to
have you along," she finally answered, "both Sasami and I would be
glad to have the company."
"Good, good," Mihoshi was blushing faintly under Ayeka's
gaze. She straightened out her uniform shirt self-consciously, "I'd
better go pack and stuff." With that she was gone, stumbling over
the doorway as she almost fled.
Ayeka frowned slightly, watching her go. She had found
herself enjoying fighting beside Mihoshi against Kagato, the
seemingly ditzy woman showing a great deal of competence. With a
slight blush she remembered awaking with her head resting in
Mihoshi's lap, and the concerned way the young woman had looked down
at her.
"She just wants to be a friend," Ayeka murmured. She shook
her head to banish such thoughts and with a determined stride
retreated to her rooms to pack.
Tenchi's strength began to come back to her, but she still
tired easily. Ryouko gently helped the nightshirt clad girl get to
bed early, helping support her as the walked closely together.
As Ryouko was easing Tenchi down to the side of the bed she
smiled slightly, "Have I said yet that you look good in black and
red?" she remarked, referring to the battle garb Tenchi had
manifested against Kagato, in the colors that Ryouko normally wore.
Tenchi smiled back slightly, "It seemed like a good idea at
the time." She began to lay back when she felt.. something, under
the covers.
As Tenchi jerked forward whatever it was wiggled, making
it's way out from under the blankets. "Myah!" Ryo-Ohki poked it's
head up, looking up at Tenchi happily. It bounced over, rubbing up
against the stunned young woman's hip.
"Ryo-Ohki," Tenchi said weakly, gently drawing the little
cabbit to her and scratching it behind the ears. Listening to that
happy purr she looked up at Ryouko joyfully, "I thought that she was
dead! How..."
Ryouko reached over to join in the scratching, her fingers
brushing against Tenchi's. "This is Ryo-ohki's daughter, more or
less," she explained, "The ship reproduced itself when it was
critically damaged, and Washu recovered the egg a few days back."
"Washu," Tenchi frowned, "your mother was up on Soja, wasn't
she? I sort of remember seeing her before I keeled over."
Ryouko gently pushed Tenchi back, making the young woman lay
down. She smiled a bit sheepishly, "I hope you didn't mind that
daughter-in-law comment she made..."
Tenchi tugged on Ryouko, pulling the slightly off balance
space- pirate on top of her on the bed. "I liked it," she laughed
softly. They snuggled close, Ryouko's hands gripping Tenchi by the
shoulders when she suddenly yawned. "Sorry," Tenchi blushed.
"Just wait till you get your strength back Tenchi," Ryouko
said dangerously, "I'll do my very best to tire you right out again."
"Can't wait," Tenchi smiled. Ryouko got up to leave, and
Tenchi reached out to grasp her hand. "You don't need to go..."
Ryouko smiled, a surprisingly gentle smile. "Sure," she
climbed back onto the bed. After only a moment's hesitation they
smoothly slid together, holding each other close until sleep came.
The sun rose early, and the group gathered by the lakeside
to say their farewells. The breeze rippled the waters, as out on the
lake Ayeka's Jurai vessel floated while not far away Mihoshi's
cruiser awaited to take the Galaxy Police officer away.
Tenchi knelt down beside the sniffling Sasami and put her
hand on the little girl's shoulder, "You can always come back to
visit, you know." A smile, "You'll always be welcome here."
"Thank you," Sasami tried to smile, then threw her arms
around Tenchi a moment. She pulled back reluctantly, then hugged the
clearly startled Ryouko.
Ayeka smiled fondly as she watched Sasami move on to Yosho.
She looked at Tenchi and smiled, "It was an honor to meet you, Lord
Tenchi."
A faint blushed colored Tenchi's cheeks. "You don't have to
call me that," she smiled.
"I think it suits you," Ayeka leaned forward to press her
lips to the startled Tenchi's cheek. Softly she said, "Farewell, for
now."
Ryouko and Ayeka exchanged a glance, the look of long time
enemies. It was an oddly intimate moment, and Ryouko actually
smiled, "Have a safe trip."
"Thank you," Ayeka acknowledged the gesture with a nod. She
dropped her voice, "Take care of Tenchi for me, please."
"Will do," Ryouko nodded in return.
Ayeka, Sasami and Yosho moved off together, talking softly.
The resemblance was painfully obvious as they talked, and Tenchi
wondered why she hadn't realized it earlier. Still, one generally
doesn't expect one's grandfather to be over 700 years old...
Mihoshi smiled slightly as she approached her, and Tenchi
had to smile back. Dressed in her Galaxy Police uniform she should
have looked formal and grave, but somehow she just reminded Tenchi
of a flight attendant. Not that Tenchi would ever tell her that.
"I wanted to thank you on behalf of Galaxy Police for
stopping Kagato," Mihoshi smiled. A bit more seriously, "Quite a few
officers were slain trying to bring him in, and I'll be glad to
report that they've finally been avenged."
"He didn't give me a lot of choice," Tenchi admitted, "but
you're welcome."
"I'll be accompanying Ayeka back to Jurai," a bit of a blush
appeared on Mihoshi's cheeks, "and when I report in I'll request
that an officer be assigned to this system."
"Is that really necessary?" Ryouko raised an eyebrow.
"Now that so many ships have come here," Mihoshi said
apologetically, "others are going to become aware of this world.
It's better to be safe than sorry."
"You're probably right," Tenchi agreed. She smiled, "Come
back and visit, all right?"
Mihoshi beamed, "Sure!"
Ayeka and Sasami stood close together, and Ayeka signaled
her ship. In a moment a sphere of light formed around them, and the
two girls rose up into the air before disappearing inside of the
vessel. A soft rumble as Mihoshi started her cruiser, and Tenchi
waved good-bye to them all. The two ships rose up into the sky
together, rapidly shrinking away, until finally they were gone.
Grandfather turned, walking back towards the shrine, leaving
Ryouko and Tenchi standing there by the lake. "Are you going to miss
them?" Ryouko finally asked.
"A little," Tenchi admitted, "I loved Sasami's cooking, and
Ayeka does grow on you a bit."
"I'm glad you were honest," Ryouko shrugged. They started
back towards the shrine, and without either thinking about it they
held hands.
"I'll always try to be with you," Tenchi squeezed those
fingers gently. She looked over at Ryouko, "I love you."
Ryouko stopped them there, her hand stroking along Tenchi's
cheek. "I love you, too," and then she pressed her lips to Tenchi's.
"You know," Washu murmured from where she watched the two of
them intently, "I think I like this place." She smiled, "Think I'll
stick around for awhile."
Through her link to Ryouko Washu had felt the depth of
Ryouko's emotions towards Tenchi. And looking at the girl, Washu
felt safe that Tenchi shared those feelings. Still, a mother liked
to keep an eye on her daughter, and it gave her a chance to study
Tenchi a bit more closely.
Besides, both Tenchi and Ryouko seemed to draw trouble to
them. Being around them would help bring some excitement to Washu's
life....
The End?
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