Tenchi Muyo All Good Things Chapter 119 Concubine
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Only a few hours later, inside the more mundane portions of the Misaki home, Hero looked up expectantly from where he knelt at table side.
Waiting patiently within the small dining area, he nodded respectfully to the queen as Funaho was first to arrive fresh from the bath. Noting Misaki trailing less than a step behind.
Taking the moment also of delighting privately as any man would upon the arrival of so many healthy females, attending Tanzuru aside.
"And where have you been all this time Sirrah?" Ayeka greeted him pleasantly as the princess too made her way inwards, recalling their last meeting days ago in front of the shrine.
"I've been using the line graciously granted by the imperium to get in touch with my immediate superiors my lady." Hero told Ayeka directly.
Noting the princess looked the picture of contentment as indeed did all the women arriving at roughly the same time. Even officer Makibi seemed more relaxed to his observation.
"It seems, presently that they've managed to media-shield ... Nearly every loose end." He dutifully continued.
"Though in most cases just barely."
Hero paused, quietly wondering if any of this however remotely, would even trouble the queen.
"I however still foresee 'fallout' inevitably for years to come!" He cautioned carefully.
"Each of these problems will be dealt with in its own time." Funaho replied smooth and obviously unconcerned.
"Now that the major crisis to the family has been averted."
"Yes..." Hero muttered, taking a moment to brood.
Considering the 'mess' all of this was still only too likely to cause. To say nothing of how much of 'the blame' weather real or merely assigned was likely to trickle down on to him.
"And as to that your majesty?" Hero acknowledged respectfully, thinking that this was a suitable time as any.
"I had hoped now might be a good time as to inquire... ?"
He trailed off ... eyes riveting to where the small precession had just parted.
Thinning as various individuals casually dispersed to reveal Ryo-chan suddenly pausing, in the act of regarding him in turn.
The soft house robe she presently wore was a radiant yellow-gold, matching her astonishing eyes. Her normally wild mane was tightly pulled back, held neatly up and in place by a blue swath of material and some strategically placed wooden pins.
She seemed to study him in turn for a moment, before her breathless expression migrated into a welcoming smile.
"Are you certain that it can not wait young man?" Funaho lilted carefully after glancing that way.
"Indeed..." Hero murmured enthralled, while rising to his feet.
"You will excuse me your grace?"
"But of course." Funaho smiled, finding she herself like the match. Being of non-Jurian descent, she held a good many of the imperialistic views in mild contempt. At least privately. Watching as Hero made his way past.
"You look wonderful!" Hero told Ryo-oki as he drew near.
"Meow..." She whispered shyly lowering her eyes.
"They're certainly getting along." Ayeka smiled, as Hero lead Ryo-chan by the hand through the living room, seeking the privacy of the front porch/patio area.
"Hmmm." Ryoko sort of grunted. Now staring hard that direction.
"Don't tell me that you object?" Ayeka gasped, taking care to keep her voice low.
"No, that's not it." Ryoko muttered, sparing the princess a single annoyed glance.
"Just wondering if I shouldn't sit 'Oki' down 'n have a little talk."
"She seems to be 'handling it' just fine." Sasami joined in, smiling as the young couple disappeared.
"Yeah, but she's got zero experience when it come to men." Ryoko replied, looking curiously at Sasami, still unused to her almost being at eye level.
"And what do we really know about that young man?" Ayeka herself then reasoned.
"Tenchi seems to trust him." Sasami shrugged.
"That's good enough for me! Besides I got a good vibe telling me Hero's a absolute gentleman!"
The sentence hadn't properly had time to audibly fade. When a low sound issued from somewhere towards the patio. Rapidly rising in volume and intensity till there could be no mistake as to its author.
"MEYOW!"
"Ryo-chan?" Hero's voice immediately followed heralding the reappearance of Ryo-oki as she literally stomped angrily back through the living room heading towards the entry hall.
"Course I've been wrong before." Sasami muttered, instantly starting the direction of her departed friend.
"Ryo-chan, honey? What is it?" Hero pleaded as he too came bolting afterwards.
"What's wrong?"
"That cad!" Ayeka sniffed angrily.
"You just hold on a second buster!" Ryoko called, sailing up and through the rooms ceiling, even as the princess began moving purposefully after her sister.
"Never a dull moment." Washu added dryly the general direction of Misaki and the queen before slowly heading that way.
Standing perplexed for a moment longer Funaho, Ena and Misaki glanced between each other for a few seconds. With a mildly consensual shrug before they too gave chase leaving Kiyone and finally Mayuka bringing up the rear.
Once assembled outside however it quickly became abundantly clear that whatever was 'up' with Ryo-oki had little to do with any action of Hero's.
Angrily moving to the side of the walk she continued to glare, stalking about. Obviously searching for something.
All the while, doing everything but ignoring Hero's repeated attempts to communicate with her.
"Why are you angry all of a sudden?" He was asking plaintively, trying again to interpose himself between her and whatever she was searching for.
"Can't we even talk about it?" Hero asked a tad more forcefully, finally reaching out to touch her arm.
"Meyow?" Ryo-chan suddenly stopped, at last looking right at him. Almost as if just seeing him standing there.
"No, no." Ryo-oki signed, suddenly very aware of how agitated Hero now was.
"Its nothing like that!" She added adamantly.
"Well, could you kindly explain just what its about?" Hero countered, more than mildly flustered.
"Now what's going on?" Funaho asked excitedly. Obviously getting caught up in all the unexpected drama.
"It's sign language Mother." Sasami supplied.
"Ryo-oki has trouble speaking normally."
"Oh, the poor thing!" Masaki cried.
"Due most likely to a mental block of some kind." Washu muttered loudly from the side.
"No flaws in my design I can tell you that!"
"Uh!" Kiyone groaned, rolling her eyes. "Try to at least contain your modesty professor!"
"Well, what are they saying Sasami?" Ryoko asked perturbed.
"You know I can't read that stuff!"
"That's cause you keep falling asleep in my classes!" Washu interjected.
"You should apply yourself more little girl!"
"Make the damn things less boring and I just might!" Ryoko snapped eyeing her mother creator ruefully. "Danged old wind bag!"
"Its something to do with a black rabbit it think?" Sasami focused, attempting to just ignore all the hubbub around her.
"Oki's kind'a upset, she 'signing' faster than I can read!"
"And yet he's keeping up with her?" Ayeka mouthed.
"My word that is impressive!"
"Boys a trained diplomat." Kiyone grumbled darkly. "What do you expect?"
There was a slight pause while the Princess, Ryoko and Sasami were suddenly studying her.
"I thought you didn't like him?" Ryoko grinned.
"I always acknowledge ability!" Key sniffed, instantly disdainful.
"Hey! You don't suppose it's THAT black rabbit?" Sasami Suddenly wondered aloud.
"The one that took her carrot?" Ryoko mused, glancing back Sasami's direction.
"That was three years ago!"
"How long do bunnies live?" Ayeka wondered quietly.
"This is all quite beyond me!" Funaho complained.
"But immensely entertaining I should think?" Ena shrugged, obviously enjoying the exchange.
"Are these 'rabbits' as they called them ... large creatures?" Misaki asked suddenly. Eyeing the foliage about with some increasing concern.
"Three foot tall, glowing eyes, razor sharp teeth." Kiyone monotoned dryly.
"Small terrestrial herbivores, your majesty!" Kamadaki supplied quickly from the side. Casting a single annoyed glance Key's direction.
"Quite harmless." He added emphatically.
"THERE YOU ARE!" A new voice suddenly shouted prompting everyone turn as one with the exception of Misaki who nearly jumped out of her shoes at the sudden noise.
Up the flagstone path towards the house Nagi the bounty hunter was advancing.
Glaring at everyone present with a gaze that would fairly serve to boil iron!
"I would like to know when I'm going to be allowed to leave!" She snapped, not even attempting an illusion of protocol. Though the sudden descending of several battle staves in from of both the queen and Ayeka seemed to register on her somewhat.
Enough that Nagi halted her advanced just shy of the imaginary line. The one she was certain that her crossing would have initiated a full scale 'free for all' that even she might have found unpleasant.
"It is quite alright." Funaho nodded, waving an assent to her assembled guards.
"I fear she has a legitimate grievance with us!"
It was enough. At least that the twenty some odd Tanzuru, which had almost 'magically' appeared, seemed to marginally relax.
"DAMN STRAIT!" Nagi swore adamantly.
"You Jurian pinheads have got a lot of nerve! You got your damn booty! Your demon! And had your little blaster-point wedding!"
She paused taking a sharp breath.
"Now DROP THAT DAMN SHIELD AND LET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!"
"With apologies bounty hunter..." Funaho bowed, allowing an instant for the echo to fade.
"I fear that the shield was released just over an hour ago as the locals measure time!"
She stopped long enough to helplessly shrug.
"I regret that I was preoccupied with family matters to an extent that I simply forgot to have you informed."
"Probably just senility!" Nagi hissed uncharitably, to a general undeniable growl from most of the Tanzuru standing about.
"She is allowed her anger!" The queen conceded forcefully to her guards.
"But I agree," She then continued coolly, directly to the bounty hunter.
"Her departure is long overdue!"
"Meyow?" Ken-oki attempted. Having moved well past where Nagi fumed. Now standing only a few feet from where Ryo-chan and Hero still stood. Bringing both their attentions his way.
Ryo-chan stared hard, studying the white hirsute stranger in the dark tailored 'Mao-suit' uncomprehendingly for several moments. Until something just clicked into place.
"YOW!" Ryo-oki cried happily. Instantly forgetting the quest for her nemesis. Moving slowly towards where he stood.
"Me ... Wow." She breathed taking him in, gesturing. A look of astonishment fixed upon her face, bringing the slightest of blushes to Ken-oki's own at her appraisal of him.
"It's ... been a long time." Ken-oki spoke to her directly, a pulsing empathy between the gems at their brows.
"You are far more beautiful than I remember!"
"When did you learn to take humanoid form?" Ryo-chan asked in complete awe.
"It happened about five cycles ago." He silently explained, clearly pleased and amused.
"A clash with a resilient bounty Resulted in our being hurled into an area of quantum flux.
I met up with what was essentially an alternate version of myself.
From what Nagi and I could tell, He'd been stuck in there for centuries! So long his version of Nagi had died!
We united, he and I. Became one and used our combined strengths to escape!"
Ken-oki then gestured at himself.
"I learned the trick from him. He'd taught himself over the ages to mimic people from Nagi's memories so she'd be less lonely."
He then paused in his 'sending' gaze centering squarely upon her.
"Does it please you?"
Hero in the mean time was at a complete loss. Watching the gems on both Cabbit's foreheads pulsate, aware that something was passing between them, and feeling awkward on top of resentful for the knowing.
"Who's this guy Ryo?" Hero finally attempted.
"Hmmm?" Ryo-oki murmured only mildly aware that someone had spoken. Ken-oki certainly had changed!
"Moh!" She started, suddenly realizing, and immediately thinking how rude Hero must think she was being.
"This is Ken-oki!" She signed to Hero carefully.
"He's..." Ryo-chan suddenly found herself hesitating, not at all certain where she should place their relationship. After all they were after a fashion, siblings ... Kind of?
"A friend." She concluded. Settling for what seemed the safer ground.
"Oh?" Hero murmured, suspiciously. But never the less stepping forwards and offering his hand.
"Well then, I'm please to meet you!" He added amiably.
"My names Hero Sheagame!"
Ken-oki looked down at the offered appendage with its pink skin and neatly trimmed nails. His crimson eyes then returned upwards. Regarding Hero with a look one possibly favors an open container of raw sewage.
He then responded with a mild clearing of his throat.
"And likewise I'm sure!" Hero smirked, withdrawing his hand while mildly shaking his head.
"Meyow?" Ryo-oki queried, glancing curiously between the two of them.
She was just about to inquire what was the matter when the bushes only a few feet away suddenly trembled.
"Bunny! Bunny! Bunny!" Mayuka called happily.
"Would you look at that!" Ryoko called from across the way. Pointing directly at what had suddenly revealed itself there.
It was huge, as rabbits go anyway. Two and a half feet from twitching whiskers to cotton tail and dark as a lump of charcoal. More like a rabbit shaped hole suddenly in front of the greenery.
"Must be the un-seasonal warmth caused by the shield." Washu muttered, amazed as everyone else. "Normally its too early for rabbits to be out and about like that!"
"Especially one of that color!" Kiyone exclaimed.
"I thought Ryo-chan was making it up!"
Ryo-oki on the contrary was quiet certain of the existence of this particular rabbit. Because the sight of it suddenly made what passed for her cabbit blood begin to boil!
"MEYOW!" She suddenly raged. Instantly fixing all attention in the vicinity upon her. Including that of 'bunzilla' as it turned to regard her.
If Key hadn't known better she have sworn the damn thing's posture alone in the wake of Oki's shout all but screamed 'Who, me?'
"MEEZE!" Ryo-chan snapped loudly, pointing for good measure. Insuring the next action taken by her quarry was an immediate bolt for the brush!
"Go get 'em girl!" A bemused Hero smiled. Administering a playful swat on her behind as Ryo-chan gave chase!
"I guess you can take a girl out of the country..." He laughed good natured, glancing towards Ken-oki.
Catching as he did a low rising growl that was punctuated when a fist suddenly slammed him full in the face!
His size belaying the obvious, the sheer force of Ken-oki's blow catapulted the hapless young diplomat backwards. Rocketing Hero into and through one of the patio's plate glass windows.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" A totally stunned Ayeka suddenly demanded. Instantly grabbing hold of Mayuka protectively.
"Duh! Ayeka!" Kiyone replied while surging into motion. "Figure it out!"
As a snarling Ken-oki already was stalking towards the hole Hero's body had punched.
"He'll kill him!" Sasami cried, starting that direction as well. Just as Ken-oki was disappearing inside.
"That's about the size of it." Nagi grinned nastily, seeming to enjoy the display.
"That's assuming the boys not dead already!" Washu interjected at Nagi angrily.
"Bounty hunter!" Funaho snapped. "Control your creature!"
"Moi?" Nagi gestured at herself innocently.
"Ken-oki's my partner, but he does what he wants!" She then mildly shrugged.
"I'm not holding anyone's leash!"
"CALL HIM OFF OR I WIll!" Ryoko suddenly roared angrily taking a step the bounty hunters direction, pulling Nagi's startled gaze directly to hers.
The moment held as full import of who was glaring at her sank home.
Ryoko ... looked so different! Nagi hadn't recognized her standing several feet away.
"Speaking of leashes." She began coolly, fingering the butt of her whip.
Whatever she was about to say was lost in the wake of a muffled roar reverberating from inside the house.
"Tsunami!" One of the Tanzuru who'd closed to investigate cried.
The man managing to fall flat to the ground just barely in time to avoid getting clipped as a flung Ken-oki violently exited!
The male cabbot's backward trajectory scattering the right hand edge of the ragged hole Hero had punched. Shattering the adjacent window as well. The force imparted, carrying him almost to the front fence.
"Ho-lee shit!" Kiyone rasped, having shoved Sasami instinctively behind her upon their arrival at the broken window.
Giving ground in awe, stumbling backwards as her hand dropping instinctively to her side as ... something big stepped through.
Kiyone grimaced as her right hand met the place where she usually slung her holster, realizing of course that she was unarmed!
Watching in mute astonishment as whatever it was had to duck low, straitened to its full odd seven foot height as it stepped through the remnants of the shattered pane!
"ALL RIGHT YOU LITTLE ASSHOLE!" The harry apparition roared in a voice no longer quite so human. "IF THAT'S HOW YOU WANT IT!"
If not for circumstance and the tattered remains of formal attire hanging from its bulging upper body, there would be no equating the creature which even now was beginning to stride across the yard as the diminutive young diplomat.
"H-Hero?" Kiyone gaped in sudden recognition.
"Sooooo, that's what a Jurian Wolven looks like!" She heard Washu exclaimed excitedly a few feet away.
The Tanzuru all about already in the process of forming a cordon, interposing their bodies between the preconceived threat and the Royal personages were less that enthusiastic however.
"Changeling scum!" Kamadaki muttered under his breath.
"Key get off!" Sasami suddenly wheezed. "I can't breath!"
Kiyone tore her gaze away from the insuring drama unfolding suddenly realizing why the ground here abouts seemed so lumpy and more precisely whom she was accidentally sitting on!.
"I hope you got an extra eight lives to spare Mr. kitty cat!" Hero rumbled as he lumbered forwards.
"Cause this ones just about up!"
Further commentary as to the pending maiming were cut unexpectedly short. When from where he had landed in a heap, Ken-oki's head suddenly snapped up!
Eyes blazing, his feline face contorting into the most inhuman of snarls.
All for an instant before he just as suddenly tensed and sprang with impossible agility strait into the air.
"Oh ... My ... God!" Hero pronounced slowly as he halted. Watching mutely as 'IT' hovered, while growing amid the sounds of shredding cloth and crystal chimes, changing and enlarging before his own transformed eyes.
Hero took to his heels as rapidly when an expanding shadow found and eclipsed him.
Just as a high pitched whine heralded two patches of the Misaki front yard several feet to either side of his current position suddenly 'woofing' into clouds of screaming vapor.
Metamorphosis completed, Ken-oki's spaceship form then ponderously pirouetted above before giving chase, main guns blazing. Harrowing the hapless hirsute up the paved road!
"Good thing he's as fast as he is strong!" Washu commented dryly. Noting that Hero's rapidly retreating form had almost made it to the distant tree-line.
"And that Ken-oki has always been lousy at ground strafing!" Nagi added with a laugh.
"Would some of you please do something?" Kiyone snapped pulling her glare from Nagi to the various Tanzuru standing around.
Perhaps she wasn't exactly in love with Hero, but all kidding aside what was happening was tantamount to murder!
"Our responsibility is clearly to protect the queen and crown princess." One of the their number offered. Yudai? Key believed was his name.
"Let the filthy Changelings kill one another!" He added coldly.
"I'm on it!" Ryoko snapped, leaping into the air. Even as Kiyone was just glancing Sasami's direction.
"Whoa!" Ryoko exclaimed. Suddenly finding herself almost seventy feet above the ground just like that!
"Must be that new symbiont!" She grumbled, astonished. Sure she'd never been exactly slow in the air. Not that she had ever exactly 'clocked her' self or anything. But on her best day she had NEVER felt acceleration like that!
"You look good." Tenchi told the Princess as she stood leaning against the side of the porch. It had been several minutes now, the two of them standing there, alone. The air in the living room before had seemed, stifling. Beyond his ability finally to bear. There hadn't been anything so much as a plan in coming outside, rather than the sudden, almost overwhelming need to just get out of there! Tenchi had taken her hand almost without realizing he had done so. More of ... an after thought...
"WHA?!" A just arriving Ryoko yelped, suddenly finding her self standing at finger point, while Tenchi, among others blinked in surprise. He however was the only one suddenly very aware of the pressure Ayeka was exerting on his arm as just to the other side of the Princess, certain galactic law officials where sizing up the pending predicament. "And now it gets really interesting!" Kiyone thought glumly. Not, without an appropriate amount of sympathy for Tenchi to be sure. "OH!"...
Lady Funaho had changed little since Mihoshi had last seen her. But then, she had 'changed' little in the last thousand years if the truth were told. One did not bring such matters up around the queen of Jurai However, if one wished to remain in good health. "I would say that this is an unexpected pleasure." The queen politely intoned. "But of course we know that would be untrue." Kiyone stood staring, uncharacteristically mute. Mihoshi however, having met the queen on more than one...
The next hour or so was blessedly uneventful, for the most part. Beginning with the Grand marshal being sent on his merriest of ways, 'sarcasm intended', with a surprising minimum of fuss. Azusa's bemusement at having so efficiently defused the situation however suddenly melted upon his return to the vicinity of the front yard. The very moment his dark brooding eyes had set upon where Ayeka stood. Something poignant seemed to have passed briefly between father and daughter. Enough...
"I'm surprised they're allowing us so much time together really." Tenchi huffed. Sparing only a few glances the direction of the massive tent the Jurian's had set up in the vicinity. Noting with some amazement something which had been absent only yesterday now towered over and almost completely engulfed most of the old rest stop. "Don't they have some traditions about, you know? 'Seeing' the bride before the wedding or some such?" He finished. Deliberately ignoring the now...
Sasami had been waiting patiently as she might. Attempting to hold a sense of what she believed was termed 'cultivated composer'. That managed to last until the first few bars of the all too familiar 'Wedding March' began. For the way that her heart leaped in her chest it might well have been 'Toccata en Fugue'. She quickly reminded herself that she was not about to greet some mad doctor or even a disfigured deranged organ playing actor for that mater. This was her wedding day and...
Several minutes, and as many buckets of soapy water later. The female contingent of Wataru's crew had almost restored the mini to showroom condition. While Sara, Mikito and Yoshi worked, the interval also witnessed Yuba's final tentative re-emergence from the caravan. "Now, Yuba dearest." Michele attempted to console. "Everyone has a moment or two of dementia now and then." "My god!" Yuba wailed, as Michele steered her sullenly towards a rest stop bench. "I really showed my...
Turning to regard the new speaker even as the others, Tenchi felt something in the location he normally associated as his brain simply freeze. In his twenty-one years he'd done and believed he had 'seen', many a great thing. Some of which could even be termed 'miraculous' Perhaps even godly. This however was the first time he could specifically remember seeing someone who actually looked ... Well, like one always expected an alien to look. She was blue! His mind instantly shooting...
'Tenchi the magnificent', glanced under at the first hold down's release mechanism, then again at the rectangular shape muted under the bright green tarp on top. Realizing he'd barley noticed it on the stage/bed behind Yuba. "Well, She had nice legs." He admitted privately, among other distractions at the time. "You go round." He started, pausing when noting Todd staring into the distance with a look of undisguised wonder. Just then on the ground, in front of him ... a moving shadow,...
Tenchi dragged more than walked himself up the darkened entry hall. Even by his standards, this had been one exhausting day. Thoughts of food, bath and bed circled his mind while trudging past entry into the living room, wondering who would be still up at this hour? Seated across from the doorway from him, Katsuhito sat holding a sleeping Mayuka while providing Ayeka a shoulder against which to slumber. It would have been an idyllic scene, if not for how pissed he currently were at his...
"Ow." Kiyone moaned softly. Fidgeting when gently as possible, Tenchi laid her down. "Lie still." He commanded, equally soft, before turning purposefully to a squat cupboard at one side of the Olsen's entryway. "Hold on." He told her soothingly. "I'll be just a moment." He would rather have taken her to the shrine however she'd insisted her injuries were not severe and the Olsen with its supply of healing herbs was closer. Once certain his back was to her Kiyone allowed her...
Day 3: (Faster than the speeding bullet.) The steady rhythmic hum of the passenger car nestled about him. The dull regular 'clackity-clack' as the train's bogies made their way across countless trestles beneath. So oddly soothing in its way as one came to terms and accepted. That after a time, it had almost Lulled Tenchi in to a kind of daze. Last night had been complete and utter hell, his thoughts wandered briefly backwards. The events of the previous day insuring a state of total...
"Tenchi?" Kiyone whispered urgently. "Uh?" he attempted, then embarrassed at the slight lapse, swallowed the portion in his mouth. He'd been concentrating on his meal, desperately avoiding eye contact with Sasami while ignoring Ayeka's periodic flinging of visual daggers at her sister. "What's on your mind Key?" He whispering at diminished volume. "Is, they're something wrong with your Grandfather?" She asked. "Huh?" "Would you mind?" Ayeka muttered, annoyed as Kiyone...
"Daaaaaadeeee." Tenchi seemed to hear from a great distance. "You gonna wake up?" The darkness shrouding his senses seemed to be lifting gradually, though the room about him remained fuzzy. "Key?" The child's voice came again. "Why don't he open he eyes?" Tenchi tried to concentrate, certain that he recognized the voices. Not an easy feat, feeling like he was swimming in Jell-O. "Give him a moment sugar bear," He seemed to hear distinctly. "You're daddy's been through a...
Smiling, his mind in a whirl Tenchi was yet again, wondering ... He was still uncertain exactly what had made that moment any different from countless others, but having no real regrets. What was more, it had all come so natural, instinctively. like he had done it before ... Had he? It was after all just a kiss. Mechanically it wasn't 'brain science' or even 'rocket surgery', but at the end of any day, is a kiss just as kiss? He'd always wondered also ... Well, what Ryoko would taste...
Hero had been sitting at the base of the entry hall stairs staring despondently at his shoes for several minutes. He been siting there far longer he supposed, lost in thought uncertain of his next move. His conversation with the queen had raised far more questions than it had answered. To say nothing of the considerable inner turmoil it had stirred up! The same questions had been rolling through his mind, over and over again since the Queen had made it her business to be elsewhere and no...
Elsewhere at roughly the same time, Tenchi was making his way along the house sun porch. Briefly he paused, taking the majestic view of the placid lake offered from this angle. Then, taking a deep breath, he smiled. "The coast is clear Mr. Sheagame." He addressed the empty air. "You can come out now." There followed a long pause during which nothing happened. Then suddenly, sounds of shuffling from underneath prompted seconds later a slight squeak. Signaling in turn loose boards being...
"I tell you Tenchi it was Achika!" Kiyone swore. "Right in front of me plain as day!" Having cleaned and washed, no longer looked like a victim of a food riot, Tenchi stopped. Turning slightly, holding the ends of a towel around his neck in both hands, staring at her evenly. "Why don't you believe me?" Kiyone challenged. "First of all," He told her slowly. "I never said that I didn't, Key." "Well what do you think..." She began. "What I said, was 'let's not talk about...
"Excellent!" Funaho breathed decisively, as Kiyone continued to glare holes in her. More than anything, Key thought the Queen seemed ... Relieved? Almost like she was expecting another answer? She wasn't certain, and didn't know that moment if she gave a damn anyway! "Not like this!" Ayeka openly wept, still kneeling on the floor leaning forward to bury her face into hands. "Please eternal Tsunami! Not like this!" She whispered, almost inaudibly. It was difficult to watch and almost...
Their arrival at stair's end was not at all disappointing. As usual, Sasami had pulled out all stops preparing lunch. The largest permanent table in the rest stops area covered with bright linen. Even from where they stood, the aroma was sheer heaven. "You know Sasami," Kiyone was saying, while Katsuhito and Washu looked on. "You're going to a lot of trouble for just a lunch!" Watching as the second princess was finishing a few last touches with Kiyone holding a box, on which Sasami...
"Dear mother and father," Ayeka wrote. Now siting in her side of the divided room she shared with Sasami. "I hope this writing finds you in the best of heath. I must confess I have been remiss in my correspondence with you, but with father's quite verbal abatements as to my 'living in shameful denial of my family duties' Nothing I could offer would have done more than simply aggravate the situation. To that end, I hope this pronouncement will gladden father's heart, as I wish to...
Ayeka stood, slightly stooped over eyes closed, totally out of breath. Slowly, methodically the princess began taking deep 'lung-fulls' of air. Sara, at that moment being the closest to the stairs stood blinking at the young woman's sudden appearance. Glancing then back along the ancient flight to a curious a trail of dust still spiraling, linking the front of the distant house to the top step of the shrine. "Who is that?" Yoshi asked voice brimming with awe, still standing over where...
"You are now Husband and wife," A voice coaxed softly behind them. With every thing going on it took Tenchi some seconds realizing it was Masaki addressing them. "There is no longer a need to restrain yourselves!" Ayeka's mother smiled. Responding to the gentle urging Tenchi opened his hand shifting his grip. Only just aware of the last of the vines still entwining their fore arms falling away. Noting in its passing the delicate patterns now indelibly there understandable more livid...
There was music in the air. The shrine and its grounds had been meticulously cleaned, not that Katsuhito had EVER allowed them to fade into disrepair. Tenchi had more than his share of calluses attesting to the fact. It was never the less a point of amusement for him to note several of the flagstones he was going to replace this week had been hastily dealt with. Obviously to his eye by someone new to using a trowel. Whatever they had 'stuck' them down with didn't even appear to be...
"Ah Mr. Masaki!" The man behind the counter said in surprisingly fluent Japanese. Tenchi had never considered himself racist, but hearing his native tongue from an someone of such obvious Jewish origin, without a trace of accent was ... Well, just plain odd. Not that 'it' coming from what appeared to be a floating wooden log was any less strange. "Or a bronzed, elf eared, blue eyed blond bomb shell for that matter!" He thought with a smile. "I understand you need some custom sizing...
"It's Beautiful." Mihoshi breathed. Looking over at her, Tony had to agree, enjoying the soulful perhaps 'mesmerized' look that had come over Miho. He could sympathize really, he was sort'a fixated himself, on Mihoshi. "You really like it?" He baited. "IT'S SO CUTE!!!!" She squealed. Clasping her gloved hands together and bouncing in place staring at the mini. "Well, I'm pleased to hear that Miho," He told her. "Cause were gonna take pictures of you and the car...
In spite of her being closer at start of their sprint, Tenchi easily beat Kiyone to roadside. Not that she was really going 'flat out' mind you. When coming finally a breast to him however, it seemed to her that most of his sense of urgency was lost. Obviously reading her next question with a glance, Tenchi simply pointed. Allowing her to follow the line of his gesture. Before Kiyone suddenly felt a groan rising from within. "Kiyone!" Came a weak and distant wail. Staggering up the...
"Grandpa's right." Tenchi thought bitterly, forcing the memory to subside with difficulty, taking its place among a multitude of lingering regrets. "I'm being selfish and it's just plain wrong!" He silently added. Having finished stowing all the tools, he then made his way towards the front entry. Of course, that was not precisely true ether, he continued to consider. Oh, he had tried to make amens with how he had unintentionally stabbed Ayeka in the heart. He had given her the...
With attention focused on the small screen, Ryoko absently reached into the box and after a moment of two of groping managed to procure the intended prize. "Quit hogging the crackers!" She hissed in a low voice. Sparing the princess only the smallest of sideways glances. "You know perfectly well you're the one shoveling them into you trap!" Ayeka whispered, fiercely indignant. "Shhhhh!" Ryoko snapped "They'll hear your big mouth!" grimacing while gesturing at the small device...
"Did you enjoy your meal sir?" The stunning brunette behind the lunch counter asked. "Not really," Tenchi thought, smiling politely, wondering if he should just come right out and say... "I'm accustom to larger portions and the sauce you use for your teriyaki eel is substandard at best!" Instead he simply nodded and smiled. After all Washu's seafood supply plus Sasami's cooking no doubt had him spoiled rotten! "And here's your change!" She intoned, pleasantly if mechanically,...
"Here we are again." Tenchi thought dryly. Though the observation was largely untrue. The ubiquitous rhythms beneath the earlier car were all but absent. Replace with a lulling 'throb' barely hinting at the power and speeds they were currently traveling. He'd also been spared the the indignations of being forced to stand, hanging on to a ceiling strap for dear life. More over and perhaps most importantly, Sasami was no longer stalking him. Like grandpa, she was dead to the world....
"Lucky son of a bitch!" Todd said wonderingly as Tenchi was dragging Ayeka away. "Come again?" Kiyone asked, in the act of taking a step forward to follow almost involuntarily, When Todd's remark brought her up short. "I mean some guys have all the luck!" He said quickly. Having seen what had just 'gone down' Todd was reevaluating his chances. 'Clearly, Masaki and that 'Ayeka' chick were an 'item'. "So." He ventured now that he seemed to have Kiyone's attention. "What's...
"One can't help but wonder," Petra intoned solemnly. "How many times have feet of countless multitudes traversed these stones?" He paused, gesturing at the step on which he stood. "Wearing them away as worshipers and acolytes tended to the needs of the spirits which bind these mountains together." Petra descended the flight of ancient stairs slowly as he continued his narrative. "Listen!" He said, stopping. "One can almost hear them whispering!" He looked toward the other side of...
To her credit Ryo-ohki didn't jump or lose grip on the tray, though her eyes did widen slightly. The ambient light catching the crimson jewel at her brow. Looking her over, Tenchi was in a mild state of shock. Ryo-chan looked nice. Really nice! It was plainly obvious there was feminine skullduggery a foot. Noting instantly not only was there only one glass on the tray but two straws. "I know Ayeka and Ryoko had a hand in the clothes and make up but the juice and straws," He paused...
It was only as the door behind them slid suddenly shut that Tenchi realized they simply weren't where they were suppose to be. No amount of redressing could have 'added' the extra space opening up before them supposedly inside of the priest quarters. That in of itself wasn't too disconcerting, he'd been telliported, translocated, dimensionally shifted and phased through solid matter once too often to go willy-nilly over such things anymore. For a good solid second or so the...
Kiyone had lain for more than several additional moments. Allowing her over taxed mind to simply 'idle' while just listening to the muffled exchanges from somewhere in the house below. The exact interval she lay there likewise went unnoticed when she suddenly started. Making out what was clearly Azusa amid the others she could hear. Perhaps she was still 'off balance' to put her current state into the mildest of terms but hearing the emperor's voice served to crystallize the...
"One hundred fifty seven!" Kiyone grimaced, chinning herself on a bar suspended between two of the older trees on the training ground. "Going to kill her!" She gasped upon lowering to full extension, before exerting, rising again. "One hundred fifty eight!" She rasped upon returning chin to the bar. "Finally lost what little brain she had!" She then growled, then lowered. Then, in spite of working off a serious 'mad on' since she had arrived, Kiyone executed her one hundred and...
"What I would like to know!" Misaki conferred angrily as she fairly stalked along besides Azusa. "Is how they always seemed to know our comings and goings!" They were moving towards 'the boardwalk' that spanned the small section lake almost touching the house. Now surrounded by a healthy selection of the imperial guard. "Come now good wife." Azusa soothed, seeming far less concerned. "They most certainly have their sources as indeed do we." Misaki seemed to consider, digesting...
Ryoko carefully slid the door open, glanced left, right, then just for good measure leaned impossibly backward. Defying gravity just shy of bringing both feet off the floor as she surveyed the darkened corridor behind to either side. "The coast is clear!" She whispered gleefully, having no real idea what that saying had to do with someone lurking about but when in Rome... Thinking 'that' in turn set her to 'thinking' which made her pause. "Whoo boy!" She grumbled shaking her head,...
"Soon." The thought drifted, as the presence unseen bided its time. Watching quietly as Sasami turned and left for the kitchen from the eves above of the entry hall, "Just a little longer" A silent promise was made from the shadows which clung there. "And he'll be all mine!" Patiently observing as the chosen quarry returned just below, watching as Tenchi set to stowing his heavy work boots. Waiting pensively for the right moment to strike! The instant Sasami hurriedly disappeared...
"Meyow..." Ryo-chan moaned. Watching darkness slowly fade as the shadows about her assembled themselves, taking on the familiar shapes of Sasami and Kiyone looking down at her. "Meyow?" she asked faintly, hoping, somehow she had imagined the whole business. "That's a big aye-firmitive Ryo-honey." Kiyone told her seriously. "You plum fainted." "Mooooooh." Ryo-ohki whispered, totally mortified suddenly identifying the new location she was in as the sun porch or patio. Smiling...
"Sis?" Sasami called quietly, knocking softly at the door. "You still awake?" In the darkness beyond Ayeka turned, in a way grateful for the intrusion. Try as she may, sleep simply would not come. She had lain for what seemed like hours, wrestling with her conscience. Listening to the sounds of house surrounding her. It had taken every ounce of will she could muster not to rise and follow, when she'd heard Tenchi's soft foot steps. Growing fainter and fainter as she noted his leaving...
In her room, Ayeka paused regarding herself in her full-length mirror. With the original destruction of Reyo, she had gone for the longest time unable to stand the sight of any artifacts, which they had managed to reclaim from the wreckage. So when Misaki's mirror had been recovered, seeing it broken covered in muck, only seemed to vigorously salt an open wound. She had no idea at the time it could be restored in such a fashion! She was a princess, not an artisan after all! So when Tenchi...
Night had at last fallen. "Time flies." Tenchi mused to himself quietly. "As the saying goes." He was uncertain of how long he had been laying there, the wedding seemed only a few hours ago. Not precisely tired from his exertions, though he supposed the word 'fun' was a raggedly deficient descriptor of the last few hours. It was curious that he found himself speculating as to the current location of the massive Ryeo unit in relation to his house. Was it floating? perhaps even...
"One should always remember, my princess." Shalla nodded pleasantly, her wizened features almost seeming to bob upon her neck. "Virtue is mostly for the masses! Nothing is inherently sinful in the bed chamber after all!" In the sun-room at the houses West End Ayeka, now dressed only in a light robe, surveyed her options without much enthusiasm. Gone where the carrot shaped throw pillows and cushions, replaced by row after row of garment racks holding the finest livery. Except for the...
"Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!" Ryoko called across the field. "You boys hungry? I got the cure! Plain, mild or spicy? It's great I'll insure! Step up quick, Jump up real fast! I got the beef but it sure won't last! Pork so juicy you'll yell for more! The pigs in heaven and the taste'll take you there for shore! Noodles so tasty slippery and hot! Come one, come all my Ramen will hit the spot! Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!" Ayeka found herself smiling, Ryoko seemed to be in her element. It...
"My god!" Tony gasped, standing finally at foot of the path gazing up, taking in the awesome glory that was Funaho. He'd been walking, taking picture and muttering since arriving at valley rim. So much so both Mihoshi and Michele trailing behind were beginning to think the camera was geared to his legs and larynx. Step, Click! Step, Click! "Good lord!" Step, Click! Step, Click! "Incredible!" On and on with only minor variations. Until finally standing at start of the modest path...
Suddenly within her minds eye Ryoko was aware of being lowered, feeling bare shoulders touch a smooth soft surface that yielded under her. Experiencing a brief but pleasant friction as her body was eased downward. All but suspended by a pair of wonderfully muscular arms. In the dark above her, enough light was present to reveal a pair of dark morocco eyes silently regarding her. "So ... beautiful," A man's voice sighed. "You have been haunting me all day!" In turn Ryoko simply stared,...
"Groggily I tried to reassure the panicky young gaggle of women, rapidly finding myself at spear point!" Ena's words continued contritely. The beach Ryoko now found herself standing upon had that curious blend of the familiar and the unknown. After all, she had trod the surface of many worlds and after a certain point, one beach front is much like another. The tidal pool in which the current drama was playing itself out, lacked the same overall serenity of a calm coastal day. Yet it was...
"The nerve!" Todd muttered sympathetically, having witnessed the entire scene. "Pardon me?" Ayeka started still stunned, turning to look uncomprehendingly at him. "Sounds like sour grapes if you ask me!" He added brightly, adjusting the strap holding the cam he was carrying. "I-I'm afraid I don't..." Ayeka stammered, still in a kind of shock. "Well, its kind'a obvious!" Todd continued smoothly, really wanting to cheer her up. "I think the girls around here should just 'wake...
"Ok," Kiyone was saying evenly, halting as she was passing through and under the Torii. "Now repeat it back to me." "No touching, no button pressing, no lever throwing." Mihoshi sighed, taking the final step up. "No cable disconnecting, no tying or untying for that matter." She continued after pausing beneath the Torii's arch, reciting in a sing song voice complete with rocking her head back and forth in time with the meter of her words. "And if I see anything in my way higher than...
"Tell me," Kagito addressed The girl pleasantly. "Why dose a 'weapon' need an education hmm?" The younger incarnation of Ryoko simply looked at him curiously as he approached. Continuing to study him when he stopped only a few feet away regarding her intently. "Power down." He commanded firmly. In response the girl closed her eyes, flipping a mental switch causing the colors of her battle skin to fade, ebony and crimson lightening, its protective epidermis thinning until she stood...
"MAYUKA!" A voice suddenly called. Ryo-oki came running into the room at almost a dead run. Before Washu and Ayeka's startled gaze, Ryo-chan slid to a halt then fell to her knees throwing her arms about the child. It was obvious to anyone Ohki had been crying her eyes out. "Hi dad ya hondar of lik dat?" She sobbed, squeezing the child tightly. "I sorry!" Mayuka sniffed. Petting Ryochan's fur. "Wanted see what wrong wit Papa yuki!" Ryo-ohki looked up. Glanced at where Nobuyuki now...
The Noise of the celebration cascaded all about the palace, as it had done for the past three days. Her ability to endure more unbridled adulation of her fawning subjects long since exhausted, Ayeka finally sought relative peace and sanctity in her chambers. She bore no ill will, did not fault the common folk their desire to see, to speak and even attempt touching her! After all, they were her subjects and she, their new queen. Still clad in her flowing gown, Ayeka found the relative quiet...
Ryo-Ohki was happy. Of course that was her usual state, being one of the most 'up beat' creatures in creation. Having left Sasami at last sleeping soundly, she was off on her nightly hunt, searching relentlessly for the perfect bed. She didn't sleep so much as 'catnapped' for want of a better term. With three solid hours being the longest interval Ryo-chan had ever slept in one go in her entire current existence, over seven hundred years of hibernation not withstanding. Carefully...
"To recap; Just under and hour ago the entire entourage finally arrived here at the United nations." Andarka solemnly addresses her audience. "Consisting of the Japanese Prime Minister and several notable cabinet officials as well." With a well-lighted hallway serving as 'backdrop' Andarka Moi looks attractive and markedly different from the last time we saw her. Favoring a more tightly conservative cut and style. The majority of her hair is wound in a tight braid, coiled and...
At a gesture from Ena, Ryoko glanced to her left as yet another scene began its revelation. "I awoke,..." Ena explained quietly. "How much later I do not know, to find Azusa tending me." Ryoko raised an eyebrow at the vision revealed. The younger version of Ena now lay naked, starkly sprawled on a raised platform in some darkened chamber. The effect of her nudity heightened by a single source of overhead illumination and the ebony material upon which she lay. Rendering sight of the...
"Good evening ladies." Arin sneered, halting a short distance away. Bowing before them in a sarcastic mockery of polite formality, before turning to face a stunned Ryoko directly. "Did you really think to be rid of me so easily Ryoko?" "You can't be here!" She murmured thickly. "It's impossible!" Ryoko wailed, now in the grips of a rising hysteria. "HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU HAVE TO DIE?!" She screamed as she leaped igniting her sword. As she descended upon the sight of her own...