Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction ❯ Autumn of Life ❯ Chapter 5

Chapter 5:

The former space pirate, destroyer of nations, fiend and demon caller, Ryoko sat high atop a tree overlooking the Masaki house. Listlessly, she thought of the carefree days that could never be recaptured. Days of fighting with Ayeka, of trying her best to seduce Tenchi, and otherwise causing mayhem and fun were over. Done. Finished. Six months elapsed since the destruction of the Ganali ship. For three months solid, she had searched with the others, searched for any sign of life - or death of her Tenchi. Nothing. Not a speck, not a trace of the boy or the Tenchiken had been found. She and Ayeka returned to Earth to confirm the bad news to the rest of the family who had clung to the tiniest hope that their son, grandson and best friend was still alive. Now, the uncertainty was worse than acknowledgment of death. But, to Ryoko, there was no uncertainty. Death was a reality because she could no longer `feel' his presence; therefore, he must be gone. This reality numbed her mind, body and soul, if there was such a thing as a soul within her. If Tenchi had been there, he would have reassured her, forced her to believe that within her lurked a wondrous soul, the soul of a warrior, of a predator, and also of a kind and loving friend. But now, now, she doubted there was anything within her but waste and a bioengineered mass of cells created for destruction…like Kagato always told her.

Strangely enough, Ryoko and Ayeka had taken some comfort in each other's loss. They no longer fought. The pirate sighed at the thought of them ever fighting-it just seemed silly now that there was nothing to fight over. They tried, oh they did try to keep up a semblance of that old existence, but it was not the same as before. They were there, alone, trying to keep the delicate balance of the family together. Sasami had taken the news the worst. Ryoko saw the torn look in the little girl's eyes….searching, always searching for an answer, probably from Tsunami, who evidently was not giving it up. Ayeka had practically interrogated the poor child for days, trying to eek out some information from the goddess within her, but not even the child's dreams held any proof that the boy still existed. Ayeka told her that she knew that Tsunami was holding back for some reason; otherwise, she would have confirmed his death. The Princess held onto that belief like a treasured jewel, and for now, that was the only thing helping her retain her sanity. Grandfather bit his lip and held his composure, as usual, when they returned to Earth. He now spent most of his days at the shrine, although Ryoko indulged him in a sparring match on occasion, but the two never spoke of Tenchi. Nobouyuki was not as strong. The man, who had lost his wife years earlier and now his son, took no relish in living among the girls or staying in the big house anymore. He poured most of his energy into his work and in six months had risen to the top of his firm and was very highly sought out to design multimillion dollar buildings. He had left them, saying only that they stay as long as they wish but indicating that he could no longer stay in the house that caused him to have so many memories.

Mihoshi came by almost weekly on her patrol. She had found Dr. Clay and somehow bumbled into capturing him. It seems that on his excursion to kidnap Ryoko and win back the favor of Tokimi, he had gained capitol by plundering a few ships owned by some not so happy Jurain nobles. These angry Juraians pressured the Galaxy Police into making his capture a number one priority and Mihoshi stepped up to that task. She did find him and his ship, and all artifacts were confiscated by the GP but only after Mihoshi had caused great destruction. Ryoko wondered often if the blonde had fumbled her way to Clay and in her own clumsy way caused so much damage to his ship, or, did the sweet, blue-eyed officer intentionally carry out her own justice upon the person who really caused Tenchi's death? It didn't matter, because, after his injuries healed, Clay was returned to a freshly vacuum sealed subspace cell monitored and maintained by the Galaxy Police. With Washu's help in creating this nice new prison, Dr. Clay would spend the rest of his days there pondering how his plan went so wrong.

Washu worked tirelessly in her lab. She had just returned in Ryo-Oohki from another deep space mission to the sector the Ganali Ship had exploded in an attempt to triangulate the possible trajectory of the second pod after the implosion. She had made so many trips to that one spot in space that it necessitated the creation of a subspace portal and monitoring station. She had shown these to the remaining family a few weeks ago and Ryoko guessed that this station, deep in space, was where the red haired child now focused her energy. Time was meaningless to little Washu. She seemed to neither require sleep nor food. And, she was quite snippy and mean, probably from the lack of both rest and nourishment. So, everyone left her to her work. On occasion she briefed them on her findings which consisted mostly that no trace of the gems in the Tenchiken could be disseminated nor could she find Tenchi's astral or biometrical patterns in any debris in space in that region, but that didn't mean much. He could have been slurped into an alternate dimension by the implosion or simply disintegrated by the blast so that not even the common elements were left. Ryoko hated that thought.

Nothing was the same or would it ever be. Ryoko grew tired of aimlessly moving her body from one room of the house to the next. None of her beloved pastimes such as sleeping, bathing or drinking held any amusement. She had no feelings left inside her except for sorrow. The pirate had become so desperate for a feeling other than sadness that she had taken a few steps into self destruction. On one occasion, she had intentionally left herself open during one of her practice sessions with Lord Yosho and the astonished old man had left a six inch gash in her side with his wooden bokken. Of course she healed quickly, as was her nature but she cursed herself for not dying. On another occasion she stole away into town one Saturday night and found herself in a bar in a seedy section. There, she discovered new and wondrous spirits and liquors, of course lavished upon her by some local men who where smitten by her exotic beauty and ability to pack it away. She allowed herself to get drunk, and allowed herself to be taken home by a faceless man. Later she pretended, or tried to pretend he was Tenchi as she allowed herself to spend the night with him. Ryoko hoped for a feeling from that experience, a feeling like shame, embarrassment, heck, even lust or love-anything to override her overwhelming emotion of pain and sorrow. But it didn't help, she still felt exactly the same if not a little hung over.

Now, she sat, reclining on a limb of a stupid old tree and she thought about what her future held and how she would ever find someone as kind and sweet as Tenchi. Softly and suddenly, a tune played in her head. The music and lyrics wafted through her mind as she watched the sun slowly set behind the mountains…

(Garbage-#1Crush)

I would die for you

I would die for you

I've been dying just to feel you by my side

To know that you're mine

I will cry for you

I will cry for you

I will wash away your pain with all my tears

And drown your fear

I will pray for you

I will pray for you

I will sell my soul for something pure and true

Someone like you

See your face every place that I walk in

Hear your voice every time that I'm talking

You will believe in me

And I will never be ignored

I will burn for you

Feel pain for you

I will twist the knife and bleed my aching heart

And tear it apart

I will lie for you

Beg and steal for you

I will crawl on hands and knees until you see

That you're just like me

Violate all the love that I'm missing

Throw away all the pain that I'm living

You will believe in me

And I can never be ignored

I would die for you

I would kill for you

I would steal for you

I'd do time for you

I will wait for you

I'd make room for you

I'd sink ships for you

Take the cross to you

To be part of you

cause I believe in you

I believe in you

I would die for you

Ayeka sat demurely upon Tenchi's bed as she admired the setting sun through the big round window. Six months ago she would never had had the courage to enter this room with or without his presence, but now, since she had returned to Earth, the princess took up residence in it. Ayeka expected protest from Ryoko, but the pirate didn't bother to fight with her over her staying or sleeping in Tenchi's room. She felt it was her duty to keep it as he had it before this hell began, so she kept his room and his possessions in immaculate order awaiting the boy's return. Well, that was mostly Washu's doing, since the little scientist did take the time to reconstruct the house to its original existence after Clay's ship destroyed it. "That ship." She thought. "That ship came for her. If not for her, Tenchi would not have pushed to come to her rescue…..he would not have….died….." No, she could think about him dying, but the Princess never uttered a word confirming his death. She deluded herself with thoughts of him still being alive, somewhere, trying to return to her….or to Ryoko…at this point, she didn't care who he wanted as long as he came back. Now, she relished this room and breathed in each night the sweet smell of the boy left on his pillow as she rested her own head upon it.

The Princess sighed as the last bit of light faded from the day and the room was bathed in blue darkness of the dusk. Ryoko would be returning soon. She didn't stay out late anymore, not since a few weekends ago. Ayeka was startled by her sister, little Sasami, lurking in the open doorway.

"Sasami?"

The little girl ran away. She didn't spend much time Ayeka anymore, not since she had tried to force Tsunami into telling her about Tenchi. Sasami begged the goddess everyday to tell her what happened but either Tsunami really didn't know or was not going to share it with the child. Secretly, Sasami had meditated, chanted, prayed, and invented play `spells' in an attempt to hasten her assimilation with the goddess. The child was sure that once she and Tsunami became one for good and for real, she would have all the answers she needed and could set the family's mind to rest….she could especially win back the trust and love of her sister, Ayeka. The little girl, with sad, pink eyes and blue pig tails truly believed that her sister hated her because she couldn't give her any answers and because of this, a terrible hate loomed in her own heart, a hate for the goddess she would soon become.

"Sasami!" Don't run from me, please?" Ayeka leapt up to the doorway and after her sister. The girl had taken refuge in her room, grabbing hapless little Ryo-Ooki for protection. The furry animal hissed and spat at Ayeka as she entered the room.

"Sasami! Please. I'm not going to grill you. I've just been thinking about something, and I want to talk it over with you."

"I…I…I don't want to talk to you." She sniffed and clutched Ryo-Ooki to her chest.

"Miya!" The cabbit yelled a cry of caution to the Princess.

"Oh, hush, you!" Ayeka knelt at her sister's side. "Sasami, I've been thinking that it was time that we…that we returned to Jurai. I've already spoken with mother and father and they agree that it is best."

"But Ayeka….."

"And, father says that no expense will be spared as to us using Jurai's resources to find Lord Tenchi…."

"But Ayeka…."

"Further, Azaka and Kamidake assure me that the Ryo-Ooh has been restored enough to allow our return to Jurai…..and…..and….."

"Sister…"

"…and, I simply….cannot live here in this empty house…anymore…." The princess wept into her hands.

"But Ayeka…"

"What? What are you telling me?"

"But…." The little girl cried. "But, when he comes back….he'll be all alone…."

"Oh, honey." Ayeka held her sister, Ryo-Ohki and all.