Tenchi Muyo All Good Things Chapter 119 Concubine
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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 she was eager to begin.
Typically, her father was so nervous he missed his Que, stepping froward with the wrong foot. Not that it mattered, for once all eyes were upon her!
And why not? It had taken Maski hours to get her ready. The corset portion of the dress had to be narrowed, its 'stays' shortened to fit her more slender waist. Sasami supposed she should be grateful.
She couldn't help but wish they could have just forgone the uncomfortable thing but the gown was based on it.
Still, she couldn't recall Azusa looking more handsome though. Father looked positively dapper in the tuxedo mother almost had to get him into at gunpoint.
But when he smiled down at her it all seemed to be worth it, as they past pew after pew filled with beaming wedding guest.
"All my life," Sasami breathed quietly. "Leading up to this one happy moment!"
She gazed up at the still distant altar.
"Soon." She sighed. "Soon I will be complete!"
Her thoughts mixed and mingled as she continued forwards. She had worn the name 'Masaki' as a ruse on earth for so long. Now she was to receive it as her own in truth!
"Tenchi." She sighed, worrying briefly upon him now. Certain he was uncomfortable with the size and pageantry of the ceremony. If truth were told, Sasami knew he would have been as happy if they'd 'eloped' her father however made it abundantly clear. Ether it was his way or her inheritance was history.
Still it was wonderful...
Getting married in such splendor! In a pristine Anglican Church with a ceiling so high you could fly a bomber sortie. Marching to the music from an organ so huge, the pipe work could irrigate a moon.
Pulling a bridal train so long, the bride's maids almost needed walkie-talkies to navigate.
No attention to detail had been spared. Even all the brides'' maids' gowns matched perfectly.
Though obviously not quite the dazzling shade of white as the brides, so not to detract from her moment of glory! All the men in attendance wearing black 'tuxes' further heightened the surreal effect.
Sunlight lancing down from a hundred stain glass windows painted the scene in coherent shafts of color. The thunderous keying of the traditional march almost drown out all sound within the basilica.
Still if one listened intently, it was just possible to catch the faint persistent echo of...
"Mou- mou meyow! Mou- mou mou mou!" As Ryo-chan walked ahead of the procession, blissfully spreading rose petals on the path before them to the altar.
Amid the joyous scene, the only detracting element Sasami could see was presented in the form of Ayeka and Ryoko, sitting together weeping by themselves in a pew.
Both of them dressed in 'widow's weeds' complete with black veils! Each barley managing to hold a sign aloft as they were attempting to console the other while glaring back at her balefully.
'Burn in hell Sasami!' And 'Your days are numbered kettle girl!' the signs were labeled respectively.
"IT'S SO BEAUTIFULL! SO BEAUTIFULL! SO BEAUTIFULL!!" Someone started wailing close at hand.
Sasami glanced, seeing her mother Masaki seated next to Lady Funaho in the front row, her biological mother transformed into a blubbering mess.
"MY WUDDLE GURLS AW GROWED HUP!!!" Misaki was sobbing hysterically as a concerned Funaho was holding out a box of tissues. Sasami flashed what she hoped was a reassuring smile, watching with some horror as with eyes laden with tears, her mother grabbed the sleeve of Funaho's robe and began loudly blowing her nose!
Turning away mortified, she tried to ignore the uncharacteristic shriek which erupted as result, by concentrating upon the altar. More importantly upon whom now was plainly visible.
She could never recall Tenchi looking more handsome or gallant as he stood beaming down at her. Yet now as the moment was almost upon her, Sasami had an instant of doubt.
She'd wanted this for so terribly long! Her every waking thought
for long as she could easily remember being, Tenchi! Tenchi! Tenchi!
Now that he was at last to finally be hers ... Would it be all that she wanted? What if, it were somehow all wrong? What if, love simply weren't enough?
As the last few feet to her place by his side dwindled and her indecisions mounted, Sasami became suddenly acutely aware of Kiyone's presence next to him. Looking so unforgivably sexy despite wearing a tuxedo in her role as his 'best man!'
It only now occurred to Sasami how jealous she'd always secretly been of Key. In some ways more than even Ryoko or Ayeka! She was his best friend, they 'played' together. Sharing a side of him that no one else, not even she who was to now be his wife could know! That intimacy with Tenchi over the years consistently had dug in.
All it took however was one look from him to banish these emotions, raging in her eleventh hour. A final long gaze deep into his eye to dispel the last of her demons as Sasami took her place. Minus the one from the mound of course.
"Dearly beloved," Katsuhito intoned from his place before the altar.
"When was he ordained to perform a Christian ceremony again?" Kiyone whispered.
"Sshhh!" Tenchi admonished.
"We are gathered here today in the sight of 'god' to witness the joining of this man and this woman in the bonds of holy matrimony."
"SOMEBODY KILL ME NOW!"
It didn't take a great feat of cognition to recognize Ryoko's voice. Nor as all heads were turned to where she now floated glowing ominously several feet above her pew to realized things were about to get nasty!
"YES! THIS INSANITY MUST STOP!" Ayeka cried passionately, below and just to the right. Assuming an an deniable battle stance as wedding guest were wisely scurrying for cover!
"Scuse me." Someone said dryly as the distraught duo continued to 'power up.'
Turning calmly from her place at the pipe organ, Washu leveled the bore of an enormous cannon like device with the words 'Nuptial Avenger 0.2' stenciled on its side.
Instantly releasing two globs of what appeared to be giant 'linguine' directly at the irate pair with a pneumatic cough!
Ayeka was the first to go down, gift wrapped like a fork twirled in a plate of spaghetti!
Somewhat more agile, Ryoko managed to stay ahead of her 'goo ball' for some seconds. Before she too succumbed to it's heat-seeker like affections. Dropping like a wet sack of rubber bands into a gallery.
"It over." Mayuka sighed, siting at her place next to Nobuyuki.
"Fraid so." Tenchi's dad nodded his head.
"The union between a man and a woman is a sacred pact." Katsuhito continued as if nothing had occurred.
"Rooted in antiquity, signifying a bond of spirit far transcending any mere contract or ceremony. Yet on this day we gather as family and friends to observe and celebrate this union."
There was the briefest of pauses, Tenchi smiled at her warmly looking past the thin veil deep into her eyes. Sasami felt herself trembling, happy tears flowing unbidden from her eyes.
"Who gives this woman?" Katsuhito asked, his own smile bringing a pleasant cast to his wizened features. That is, until the silence which followed began to elongate noticeably. Prompting Sasami to glance her father's direction.
"Well..." Azusa cleared his throat, his features wearing a decidedly dark aspect.
"UH HM!" Sounded from directly behind him. All eyes turned towards where Funaho and Masaki were glaring holes in their husband's back.
"I suppose I do." He grumbled quickly, averting his eyes.
They were drawn instantly back when Sasami gave his hand the gentlest of squeezes.
"Oh father!" She sighed sweetly, giving him a smile. Azusa looked upon her, eyes shining looking as though he were seeing her for the last time.
Perhaps he was, in a very real way.
It made for the most poignant of moments when at last she looked away, back towards her future. Where Tenchi stood holding out his hand.
Amid her joy, Sasami still felt a pang of regret stepping away, as finally she must. A brief sadness washed almost instantly aside at the touch of Tenchi's hand.
"The ring please?" Katsuhito asked pleasantly, prompting Tenchi to hold his other hand out while he again gazed into her eyes. Sasami responded blinking several times feeling right at the moment her heart would certainly explode from joy!
The moment was perfect ... that is until Sasami saw his smile falter, just before breaking eye contact with her. Shifting his gaze sideways while adopting a slightly miffed expression.
Now mildly concerned Sasami's followed the indicated direction to where Kiyone stood, frisking herself.
"Makibi..." Tenchi hissed, his voice almost a threatening growl.
"Oh hell!" Kiyone swore mildly skinning hand down the sides of her slacks.
"Damn Masaki!" She added shooting him a frantic look before one hand shot to the breast pocket of her vest.
"Key, how could you?" Sasami begged, unable to believe what was happening.
"Sorry kid!" Kiyone gasped in a pleading tone. "Damn it! I shouldn't have shown Mihoshi that ring!"
"HEY!" Mihoshi indignantly yelled from across the room.
"Even told myself to put it in a safe place..." she stopped cold, eyes brightening.
"Aha!" Key cried raising a finger. Then to the utter astonishment of everyone present, began unbuttoning her shirt.
"Oh for the love of god!" Tenchi rasped rolling his eyes, which were promptly covered when he slammed his palm into his forehead as Kiyone reached into her bra!
"Key! How could you?" Sasami repeated, now quite certain the end was near!
"OK! I'm sorry!" Kiyone scathed during the delicate retrieval process.
"Its not like some of my best friends get married everyday or anything!" Producing the required article she quickly handed the ring over.
"I just got over excited!" She grimaced apologetically.
"When I get back from the honeymoon..." Tenchi warned quietly under his breath. "You are d-e-a-d!"
"Don't you mean when WE get back?" Sasami asked.
"Ahem." Katsuhito cleared his throat, returning his posture to normal after covertly, he hoped, leaning slightly forward to sneak a peek at Kiyone's cleavage.
"Now that, that's out of the way." He paused again turning serious.
"The wedding ring," He intoned. "Since time immemorial serves as an outward symbol of love and devotion. Signifying the bond, which you share. Though only cold metal, let its luster give notice that like its simple band, your love stands forever, unbroken." Katsuhito now paused, noting a certain tension within the room. The moment had at last arrived.
"Do you Tenchi Masaki?" His grandfather smiled, he was enjoying the mild look of panic, which briefly materialized, on his grandson's face.
"Take the lady Sasami of the house of Azusa? To be you're lawfully wedded wife?" Tenchi smiled, Sasami had no idea how many times he had practiced his response.
"Probably using Kiyone as MY stand in! Damn her all to hell!" She privately fumed. Even as she thought it Sasami chided herself, such jealousy was unbecoming!
Especially considering she'd won. Still, it seemed a long time before Tenchi cleared his throat and spoke those two words she'd waited an eternity already to finally hear.
"I do." He spoke loudly and proudly almost drowning out the sound of two distant voices sobbing somewhere towards the back of the cathedral.
Tears now flowed freely down Sasami's face. He'd finally said it! so rapped was her attention upon him, She' didn't realized immediately Katsuhito favoring Tenchi with the most smug expression.
"Bout damn time boy!" he added with undisguised glee.
"Grandpa!" Tenchi griped.
"And do you Sasami?" Katsuhito continued, ignoring the annoyed glare. "Take this man?" He seemed to deliberately draw the sentence out.
"To be you lawfully wedded husband?" Sasami looked deep into his eyes final time before she at last spoke.
"No..." She breathed sadly.
"Ok, that's enough." She continued firmly. Giving Tenchi's hands a gentle squeeze Sasami stepped back from the altar.
"I'm dreaming all of this, and I know it!"
"CUT!" Yelled a voice from behind her. Casting an amused glance that direction Sasami was treated to the sight of a bank of motion picture cameras manned by a cast of familiar characters.
Wataru Higomi moved out from behind and regarded her pointedly.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT YOUNG LADY?" Sasami smiled at the seething director musing that, 'being nuts' sometimes had its amusing aspects.
"I'm really sorry Mr. Higomi." She sighed. "But I just can't go through with it!"
She paused tiredly, trying to think of the best way to phrase it.
"It's the same thing as lying to myself!"
"OH! Really?" Wataru groaned. "Just like that huh?" He turned around and kicked the side of the stairs leading up to the altar, hard.
The groan intensified when his foot went right through the simulated marble!
"OH! JUST PEACHY!" He yelped before turning again to face her angrily.
"You are through little lady!" He snapped. "I'll personally see you never work in this town again!"
For her part Sasami was genuinely startled. He certainly was awfully hostile for a figment! Continuing to watch him in mute astonishment as he whirled on heel and stalked away.
"Get the damn set coordinator in here!" Wataru yelled. "Damn prima donna!" His voice became more distant his anger however didn't seem to abate.
"Everybody were breaking for lunch!"
Sasami sighed sadly, wishing she could have just lost herself in this one sweet little dream but...
"Kamora," She mused darkly. Remembering her last moments before collapsing. The clear and cryptic image of one of her father Azusa personal guardian's floating in door of Tenchi's room.
"What the hell was he doing here?"
Now that she was concentrating on matters at hand, Sasami found her worries increasing exponentially. She favored a last glance towards the altar and her dream.
"I really do love you boy!" She gently told the pseudo Tenchi.
"But this just isn't real." She gestured at the glorious if imaginary surroundings. Still, real or imaginary, he looked so sweet in his tuxedo!
"Enough!" The sensible side of her commanded. This was getting her nowhere! Turning again from the altar Sasami began considering possible exits from the cathedral.
"Hey," Tenchi called to her softly. "It can be as real as we wish." Sasami felt herself stiffen a chill shooting up her spine as he added. "I love you too!"
"Oh! Just shut the hell up!" She called angrily over her shoulder. "You're not him!"
It rocked her to the core of her being, treating even a image of Tenchi in such a fashion but it served to buttress her resolve.
"That's it!" She swore to herself. "I'm outta here!" with that Sasami made way down the main aisle shouldering right past the image of Azusa.
Upon impact her father toppled oddly backward, suddenly a two-dimensional cutout and lay flat against the floor where he fell.
"Hey ya little bitch!" someone snapped indignantly as Sasami hurried past. "You got any idea how much those fuck'n standees cost?"
"Figures," Sasami sighed quietly recognizing Yuba Obo at a glance. "The entire film crew!"
She found that mildly distressing, you'd think it being her dream and all she could have somehow 'deleted' little miss foul mouth at least!
As her distance to the main doors decreased the faux world of the cathedral strangely continued to unravel. Mahogany pews began to show backs of particleboard. Wedding guest further removed from the altar were reveled to be manikins, some only dressed from the waist up!
It seemed as odd that Sasami remembered just then she had recently seen a documentary on cinematography where set construction and blocking were covered in some detail.
Now close to the gallery where Washu's cannon had ejected them, Ryoko and Ayeka now stood somewhat side by side bawling out Ben Offer, the film crews engineer.
"What in gods name was the thing loaded with?" Ayeka was snapping as Sasami was moving past.
"It almost suffocated me!"
Even intent ignoring the dream around her, Sasami couldn't help noticing Ayeka, now presumably out of character, seemed to have an Osakan accent!
"Forget about her!" Ryoko was adding. "One of the wires on my flying rig snapped when that ball of shit smacked me!"
"And these hot lights are melting my face!" Ayeka butted back in. "I'm pushing thirty for Christ's sake! How long do they expect me to keep playing a nineteen year old?"
"Screw her face!" Ryoko interrupted again. "The lights are making my implants swell!" Sasami almost
stumbled on hearing on that one. Pausing long enough to gape at where Ryoko was 'hefting' select portion of her anatomy.
"I've already broken three bras!" She added angrily.
Shaking that aside, trying to stay focused, Sasami paused briefly considering her next obstacle. Considering now the elaborate train of her gown. Real or imagined, there was no way she was going to get out of here dragging thirty-three yards of white satin!
"Hey it's my dream!" She thought indignantly, wondering for a second who it was she might be addressing? Grabbing the end attached to the dress Sasami lifted finding its edge and pulled, getting a real surprise when nothing happened!
"What the hey?" She huffed to no one.
"It's just a dream! I should be able to tear this!" Rather than spend a useless amount of time, another strange concept given the current context, going over the 'rules of lucid dreaming', Sasami tried again, and again. No mater how hard she strained the pseudo satin simply would not tear.
"This is a load of bull-crap!" She griped angrily wondering what to do next.
"Could I be of some help?" Someone asked. Still in a state of frustration Sasami glance up not knowing what to expect. Seeing the cute blond stage assistant from Iron Chef Morimoto's appearance back in Tokyo!
"What was she doing here?" Sasami wondered. This was the second time 'Bubbles' had appeared in one of her dreams. She took a second to wonder again how anyone could hang such a name on someone.
"Not unless you can tear this!" Sasami asked point blank, indicating her wedding train. Bubbles studied the satin train with those magnificent blue eyes for a moment before smiling sweetly.
"I could..." She giggled regarding Sasami oddly. "But why don't you use these instead?" Holding out the set of chef's knives Sasami had won!
Gratefully receiving them Sasami tore open the package, controlling her haste just shy of lacerating a hand.
"Thanks Bubbles!" Sasami told her. "You're a life saver!"
"No," The bouncy little blond blushed. "Just another one of your phantoms." She then paused seeming to turn serious.
"You still think you still might wind up with Tenchi?" She asked curiously.
"That's what I'm going to find out!" Sasami grinned mischievously while hacking away. "Like they say on earth, It ain't over till the fat lady sings!"
"LA-LAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Echoed from somewhere behind her. Cranking their heads around that direction, Sasami and Bubbles got a view of a three hundred lb. Valkyrie, standing beside the distant altar, Caterwauling her brains out!
"You'd better hurry!" Bubbles smirked with emphasis.
Now liberated from the train, without another word, Sasami bolted out of the basilica, forcing her way past the huge metal doors. Sliding to a halt when her high heels met the tile floor of...
"The kitchen?" Sasami gasped. Glancing over her shoulder. Sure enough, the doors to the cathedral had vanished. Not that she'd had any wished to return.
Settling her features into an angry pout Sasami regarded her surroundings.
There was just something exceedingly odd about this dream scape. Something Sasami, who could pride herself on being about the one expert about this sort of thing.
Well, maybe her and Freddie Kruger, but in the mean time. Not sure of what to do Sasami opened the fridge and found everything was in immaculate order. Likewise the entire Kitchen shone as if scrubbed and polished.
It more like an idealized version of her kitchen than how it really was, she considered for a moment. Thinking that there was nothing strange about that. Dreams always emphasize and amplify.
What was striking her as patently odd though was there didn't seem to be the expected 'try and get her to notice something' that usually defined the sort of dreams she normally had.
Aside from the stint in the chapel there didn't seem to be any impudence to do anything at all like whenever she had a vision. This environment seemed more than content, waiting for her to actively do something and aside from the fore mentioned wedding, was unpopulated.
"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...
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...
'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,...
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 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...
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...
"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...
"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....
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...
"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...
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...
"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...
"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...
"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...
"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...
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...
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...
"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...