A VERY TENCHI CHRISTMAS
Written by Brian Navy (geosword@usa.net)
Copyright © 1997
All characters are Copyright to their respective creators. You know who you
are!
PART FOUR: CHESTNUTS ON AN OPEN FIRE
Tenchi rolled on his side with a sleepy grumble and then he woke up.
Half expecting
to see Ryoko laying there, he was disappointed when she wasn’t. He looked
at the calendar.
Today’s date had a big red circle around it. Party day had arrived.
The smell of something really delicious came to his nose and got him up
out of bed. He put
on a tank top and headed down stairs, following the aroma to the kitchen.
Sasami was hard at
work baking. She had already prepared two appetizer trays, which were lying
on the table,
covered by saran wrap. She opened the oven and pulled out the rack inside.
On it was a huge
turkey. She looked at the pressure gauge stuck in it then slide it back in
oven, closing the
door.
"You’re hard at work." Tenchi said.
Sasami spun around with the same sweet smile on her face that was
always there.
"Good morning Tenchi! Yes! I am going to be preparing the food for
the party most of the
day! Oh, I made you breakfast too."
Tenchi looked at the plate which had a large portion of scrambled eggs,
four juicy pieces of
bacon and two pieces of perfectly browned and buttered toast. Next to that
was a tall glass of ice
cold orange juice.
"Thanks Sasami! That’s very kind of you."
"No problem. Now take it and get out!" she smiled sweetly.
Tenchi nodded, gathering some silverware, a napkin and his food. He
headed into the den to
admire the mighty Masaki Christmas tree. The perfect amount of lights,
garland and ornaments
were mixed together to make this one of the best trees Tenchi had ever seen.
Underneath the
tree were a pile of presents wrapped with care, at least the ones not
wrapped by Ryoko.
Tenchi chewed on a piece of bacon and thought how lucky he was. He had
the best friends, a
good family, a nice house. All that was missing was the touch of a mother.
He smiled as he
remember a Christmas from so long ago. The tree had sat in the same spot,
not nearly as big, but
just as pretty. Achika, his mother, had been there then. He was three then
but he remembered it
all clearly. He could almost see her again, her smiling face as she handed
out the gifts. He
shook the thought from his mind. It always made him sad to think about her.
It had not use to
bother him so much until he had been with her, defending her from Kain, in
another time.
"It’s pretty." Ryoko said from behind. Tenchi looked to his right
where Ryoko was leaning
over the couch. She smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Yeah. We did a really good job." He said, offering her a strip of
bacon. She took it and
nibbled on it.
"Look at all those presents. Watcha get me Tenchi?" she said with a
cute smile, snuggling
her cheek against his.
"I am not telling. You’ll just have to suffer till tonight like the
rest of us."
"Phooey."
Ryoko floated over the couch and sat down next to him, looking at the
tree. Tenchi put an
arm around her shoulders. At that moment Aeka came down the stairs and a
look of disbelief filled
her face. He had his arm around her.
"Tenchi?" Aeka said. Tenchi looked back and up.
"Good morning Aeka. Come and sit with me a moment." Tenchi said. She
obeyed sitting next to
him on the opposite side from Ryoko. Tenchi sat his food on the table then
put his arm around Aeka.
"I just wanted you two to know that no matter what present you got me,
the best one is right
here. Your friendship is the best thing I could ever have." He said. He
pulled both of them to
him, and kissed both on the cheek. Aeka blushed, a little misty eyed.
Ryoko smiled and cuddled.
"Thank you Lord Tenchi." Aeka choked up then laid her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah. That means a lot to me Tenchi." Ryoko whispered softly, staring
at the tree.
"That’s my boy! Go for the gold! Two is better than one I always
say!" Nobuyuki said from
the stairs. The gang looked up at Nobuyuki standing at the bottom of the
stairs in his robes. In
his hand he held a very nice looking Pioneer camcorder which he was looking
through.
"Say hi." He waved to them.
"Mr. Masaki! Please! I am hardly ready to have my picture taken."
Aeka said, hiding behind
Tenchi.
"Bah! You could never truly be ready for a picture anyway Aeka." Ryoko
giggled.
"And here we here in the family den. As you can see, this year’s tree
is a whopper and quite
beautiful." Nobuyuki panned the camera up and down the tree then he sniffed
the air. "I smell the
sweet aroma of Sasami’s cooking. Into the battlefield that is the kitchen!"
Nobuyuki said, panning
the room and heading down the hall to the kitchen.
"You’re dad sure loves his cameras." Ryoko said.
"Yeah. Don’t tell him but that’s my gift to him. I bought him the new
multilensed, super zoom
capable Pioneer camcorder with onboard editing features, the works." Tenchi
said.
Ryoko whistled. "Bet that cost a bit."
Tenchi nodded.
"Did you spend that much on me Tenchi?" Ryoko cuddled again.
"Why would he waste money on a pirate like you?" Aeka bleahed.
"As I said before, you’ll just have to wait and see."
"Phooey!" Ryoko said.
The doorbell rang at that moment. Tenchi got up and answered it.
Standing outside was
Mihoshi and Kiyone.
"Hi everyone!" Mihoshi chirped happily.
"Mihoshi somehow sweet talked the manager into giving us the day off."
Kiyone smiled.
"Come on in!" Tenchi said, hugging them in turn. Each one had a few
wrapped presents which
they placed under the tree.
"Sorry we’re so early but we had nothing better to do." Mihoshi said.
"Nice tree. A little tall." Kiyone said, looking up at the hole in the
ceiling.
"That’s no problem. Make yourselves at home. I am going to go take a
shower then I’ll be
back down."
"All right! I’m going! I’m going!" Nobuyuki’s voice came from the
hall. He entered the room
with camera rolling and locked it on Mihoshi and Kiyone. "And here we have
Galaxy Police
Detectives Mihoshi and Kiyone. Say hello girls."
"Hello Mr. Masaki." Kiyone waved. Mihoshi bowed and giggled.
"This is our first Christmas to have such distinguished guests in our
presence." Nobuyuki
commented into the portable microphone. Mihoshi giggled more, blushing
slightly. Kiyone just
smiled.
The sound of a door creaking made Nobuyuki spin the camera around. The
yellow door to Washuu’s
sub-space lab was opening, slowly, frighteningly. The hinges made a
terrible sound.
"Oh! Behold viewers, a rare appearance by the beautiful goblin that
dwells in the caverns
below the house." Nobuyuki said.
Washuu walked out waving at the camera, her long bright red hair held
back by her purple
scrunchy.
"Just who are you calling a goblin?" she smiled.
"No one Queen Washuu." Nobuyuki bowed.
"That’s better." She giggled.
"Why Washuu, I am surprised you showed your cute face at all." Nobuyuki
said. "You’re coming to
the party?"
She held up her fingers in a victory pose and nodded. "I wouldn’t miss
it for the world."
"I am going to take a shower." Tenchi said, heading up stairs.
When he returned to the living room everyone was there, talking and
laughing. He smiled at his
family, and his friends he considered family. He came down the stairs the
rest of the way and
entered the group.
"How’s the supper coming Sasami?" Tenchi asked.
"It’s great!"
"Because Aeka didn’t help you make it." Ryoko said.
"Ryoko." Tenchi said in a warning tone.
"I know. I know." She smiled.
"I’d like to thank you again Tenchi for inviting Kiyone and I. This is
our first Christmas. I
am so excited!" Mihoshi bowed.
"I couldn’t see it any other way." Tenchi smiled.
"So when do we bust out the presents!?" Washuu shouted above everyone.
"After dinner tonight," Tenchi answered. He eyed the appetizer tray on
the table which everyone
had already dug into. He picked up a finger sandwich and swallowed it
whole. "Which is going to be
spoiled if I eat to much of this stuff."
Everyone laughed.
"I want to say that I am glad that so many girls are here this year."
Nobuyuki said.
"You would be happy." Ryoko chuckled.
"It’s good to have a full house." Nobuyuki said sincerely. Everyone
smiled at the warm
thought.
"I am thankful for not being stuck in that stupid cave anymore and to
have a place to call
home again. I have you to thank for that Nobuyuki." Washuu said. She got
up and kissed him on
the forehead. He blushed.
"Well, if it gets me a kiss from a queen I’m all for it." He laughed.
"I want to thank you for being so kind to Sasami and I. I should thank
you the most Mihoshi.
Because of your distress beacon I found everyone here, my friends." Aeka bowed.
"You’re welcome!" Mihoshi giggled.
"Yeah, I guess I owe you too Mihoshi. If you hadn’t forced me to crash
on this planet I would
have missed all this fun." Ryoko said.
"I am glad I chased you here. It gets pretty lonely in space and even
lonelier when you don’t
have any friends." Mihoshi frowned a bit then smiled. "But I have lots now."
"You… always… had me Mihoshi." Kiyone stuttered through her sentence.
"Really?" Mihoshi’s eyes sparkled.
"Yeah. You may cost me promotion after promotion after promotion, and
you may needlessly risk
my life constantly but you’re one of the only people that has ever liked me
for who I am, not afraid
of me." Kiyone smiled.
Mihoshi’s eyes watered then a waterfall of tears exploded forth.
"That’s so sweet!" she said,
glomping on to Kiyone. Kiyone patted her on the back.
"It’s really been a lot of fun!" Sasami said. "I’ve got to meet so
many interesting people and
make new friends, especially you Tenchi."
Tenchi blushed at the tone in which she used his name. Nobuyuki
laughed. "You got them all
chasing after you Tenchi. You make your father so proud!"
"Dad! Come on!" Tenchi said, turning beat red.
Everyone laughed. When everyone quieted back down Tenchi stood up and
cleared his throat.
"My life has really been touched by the presence of each and everyone
of you. I can’t even
remember what a normal life was like."
There was laughter. Tenchi continued.
"You sure know how to show a guy a good time. We’ve been through a lot
together and I hope it
never ends. I love each and every one of you."
Mihoshi burst into tears again.
"I’m so moved." She cried.
"Of course, you love some more than others, right Tenchi?" Ryoko purred.
"Yes, like me." Aeka said, cooing into his other ear.
Ryoko made a buzzer sound. "Wrong! Try again princess."
"You really love me the most don’t you Lord Tenchi?"
"Yeah sure, whatever. Has he kissed you yet?" Ryoko grinned.
"K-ii-ssed? Tenchi? You didn’t kiss this monster did you?" Aeka said,
clutching Tenchi’s
shirt desperately.
"Well…" he said, sweating bullets.
Nobuyuki held up a piece of mistletoe over Tenchi and Aeka’s head then
pushed the two together,
into a kiss. Ryoko’s left eye twitched while everyone else laughed. Aeka’s
cheeks turned rosy
red as she kissed Tenchi, a kiss that lasted longer than normal. Ryoko
finally yanked Tenchi back.
"Come up for air lover boy!" she growled at him.
Aeka smiled in heavenly joy.
Youshou stood up next, adjusting his glasses. "I am blessed as well
with my family and by
friends willing risk their lives to save each other. Achika would be very
proud of you Tenchi."
Nobuyuki nodded. "I have raised our boy well mother!"
And so they talked and had a major snowball fight later in the day. A
snowman building contest
was won by Sasami and Aeka and the snow sled race was won, believe it or
not, by Aeka as well. They
skated at the pond for the rest of the day till the sun went down then
gathered back in the dining
room for the feast. Sasami had prepared a massive meal complete with
turkey, stuffing, corn, green
beans, cranberry slices, corn bread, rolls and tons of other stuff.
Everyone ate till they felt they
would burst then they retired to the living room.
Aeka and Ryoko cuddled with Tenchi, sharing him in a rare moment. They
sang Christmas songs and
played games, drinking eggnog which mysteriously had been spiked with sake.
Then the giving of gifts
came about.
"Normally, mother would hand out the gifts. I think that… Mihoshi
should do it this year."
Nobuyuki said.
"Me?" Mihoshi looked surprised.
"Sure. Go ahead. The privilege of having a first Christmas and being
really cute." Nobuyuki
winked.
Mihoshi lept up and knelt before the tree. "Okay then! Who wants a
present!?"
Ryoko and Aeka practically knocked each other trying to be the first.
"Give me! Give me!" Ryoko pawed.
"Ladies first!" Aeka said, elbowing Ryoko.
"Here’s one for Ryoko from Nobuyuki. And one for you Aeka from
Youshou. And one for Washuu
from Tenchi, one for you Kiyone from me! And here’s one for you Ryo-oh-ki!"
The cabbit meowed excitedly.
"Here you go Sasami. That’s from Tenchi and here’s one for me from
Tenchi too! Here you are
Mr. Masaki, and you too Mr. Masaki. From Aeka and Sasami."
They tore into their gifts. Kiyone got a pair of bright silver
handcuffs with her name engraved
on them. "Oh wow. Cool! Thanks Mihoshi!"
Sasami’s gift was a pair of fancy matching kitchen pot holders with
"To" written on the left one,
"Cute" on the right. Sasami giggled. "Thank you Tenchi! I needed a new pair."
Ryo-oh-ki tore open her rather large present with her tiny paws and
meowed excitedly when a basket
full of bright delicious carrots was revealed.
Aeka’s present was a finely crafted crystal blue pendant. She held it
up to the light admiring
it’s perfect cuts. "It is very beautiful Mr. Masaki. Thank you." She said,
putting it on.
Ryoko tore through her wrapping in record time revealing a pair of
beautiful bracelets. "Super
Pirate" was engraved in the surface of each. "Cool! Thanks!" she said
putting them on. She then
pecked Nobuyuki on the cheek and sat back down.
Nobuyuki and Youshou opened their presents and received a personalized
leather wallet and
sandals, respectively. "Very nice." Nobuyuki said. "Yes, thank you Sasami,
Aeka." Youshou said.
Washuu shredded her wrapping and found a cheery oak plaque with "Cutest
Scientist Of The
Millennium Award, Washuu." in gold on it. "It’s the total truth too. Thank
you Tenchi."
Mihoshi opened her present which was a trophy, the head piece being a
crumpled space ship.
"Best Planetary Landing Award." Mihoshi laughed and ran over to hug Tenchi
and give him a kiss on
the cheek. "Thank you Tenchi."
"You deserve it." He smiled.
Ryoko handed Tenchi a flat large poorly wrapped rectangular package.
"This is from me Tenchi.
I hope you like it." She said.
Tenchi smiled and tore it open and his eyes bugged out. Nobuyuki
grinned and Youshou cleared
his throat. It was a gorgeous still life painting of Ryoko in the nude,
very life like.
"You can hang it above you bed." Ryoko smiled.
"What is it Tenchi?" Aeka asked. Tenchi quickly wrapped it back up the
best he could. "Just
a picture frame."
"Here’s mine to you Lord Tenchi." Aeka said handing Tenchi a package.
He opened it. It was a
shirt box. He opened it and pulled out a dark blue sweater. On the front
was stitching, "Aeka and
Tenchi Forever.", a heart design in the center of it. Tenchi smiled.
"Thank you Aeka. It’s very
sweet." She beamed a smile at him.
"First wave complete!" Mihoshi said, grabbing more presents.
"Let’s see, To Nobuyuki from Tenchi. For Ryoko and Aeka from Tenchi.
To Tenchi from Sasami
and here’s one from your dad and granddad as well Tenchi. That’s about it."
Nobuyuki opened his present and stared, stunned at the new camcorder.
"Oh my! The new Pioneer
LC-400 super camcorder!" At that moment Tenchi thought his dad looked like
a little kid in absolute
toy heaven. Aeka screamed out in joy. It was a ring, nothing fancy, a band
made of gold with a
small imitation gem embedded in it.
"An engagement ring Tenchi!?" Aeka said excitedly.
"It’s a friendship ring."
Ryoko smiled as she opened her box and inside was an identical ring.
She slipped hers on and
admired it.
"It’s lovely. Thank you Tenchi." Ryoko said, kissing his cheek. Aeka
kissed his other cheek.
Tenchi opened his gift from Sasami and the crystal blue unicorn was
inside. Tenchi took it out
and looked it over with a smile. "This is a very beautiful sculpture
Sasami. Thank you very much."
Sasami bowed.
Tenchi opened his present from his dad and grandfather next.
The box was long and slender and heavy. He tore the packaging off. It
was a long cherry oak
case with delicate carvings on the top. He pulled the latch and the lock
popped open. He carefully
opened the case and a gorgeous katana samurai sword came into view. The
blade was extra shinny and
very sharp. The hilt was made of white ivory, carved into the shape of
dragon. Tenchi pulled it out
and held it up.
"Wow. This is a beautiful sword." Tenchi said in awe.
"It was specifically made for you Tenchi. Since you can’t handle
Tenchi-ken yet. You may
practice with that instead." Youshou said.
"Thank you very much." Tenchi bowed in respect.
"Well that’s that. That was fun!" Mihoshi said.
"NOT QUITE ALL THE PRESENTS!" Washuu shouted out, getting everyone’s
attention. "I have saved
the best present for last. Everyone, come with me!"
Washuu led the train of people into her sub space lab, through the maze
of computers to a door.
She opened the door and ushered everyone inside. The chamber was about half
the size of a football
field with a domed ceiling curving twenty feet above. In the center of the
round room was a strange
device with four prongs sticking up. Resting on the prongs was an orange
orb which was pulsating. A
ring built into the wall circled the room. It looked like it could move,
designed to rotate around
the room.
"Wow. This is impressive Washuu." Tenchi said, gazing in awe at the
chamber.
Washuu smiled warmly. "Wait till you see what it does. Tenchi,
Nobuyuki, Youshou… Merry Christmas
to you." Washuu said, pressing a switch on a hand held controller. The ball
in the center hummed to
life and lit up brightly. The ring around the room, as predicted, began to
rotate around the room,
slowly at first, building to a blurring speed. Then suddenly the orb
flashed and the room was
transformed into an exact duplicate of the living room. It was so realistic
that Tenchi thought he
was standing in it again. But it was different than before. The furniture
was arranged differently,
and the tree was smaller but still beautiful. On the ground in front of the
tree was a little boy,
perhaps four years old with short black hair and cute brown eyes.
"It’s me." Tenchi whispered.
"Merry Christmas Tenchi." someone said behind Tenchi. His eyes widened
as recognition set in.
He turned around and his heart skipped a beat as he saw his mother standing
there. Her long black
hair was down to her ankles, tied back into one long pony tail. She was
dressed in a beautiful
blue kimono with yellow flowers decorating it. She held a wrapped present
in her delicate hands.
"Mother." Tenchi smiled.
She walked past him to little Tenchi. He hugged tightly on to Achika.
Tenchi knew this was the past brought to him in the present, something
only Washuu could do. As
Tenchi watched his eyes filled with happy tears. He felt a hand on his
shoulder and looked at his dad
who was also getting teary eyed.
"Merry Christmas Tenchi." Washuu whispered and faded into the background.
Tenchi sat down with his mother and reached out for her, his hand
passing through her. That’s
when the tears rolled down his cheeks. Nobuyuki kneeled next to his son,
his own tears starting to
roll.
"Mother." Tenchi whispered.
Achika looked back as if she had heard him, staring straight at him.
For a moment Tenchi was
with his mother again. She smiled then looked back to little Tenchi.
"I miss you." Tenchi cried. He laid his head against his dad’s chest.
Aeka wiped her own tears
away. Ryoko was trying her best to keep from crying but failed in the end.
Mihoshi was flooding,
holding on to Kiyone.
"Oh wow! Thanks mommy!" little Tenchi said as he opened his present.
It was a toy robot, bright
red. Big Tenchi smiled, wiping his face. It did little good as new tears
replaced the ones wiped
away.
"You’re welcome." Achika smiled and hugged little Tenchi.
Big Tenchi hugged Achika as best he could and gave her a kiss on the
cheek. "I love you mom."
He said.
"I love you Tenchi." Achika said. It sounded like she had spoken to
him directly but he knew she
was talking to his younger self. Tenchi sat watching with a smile as
Achika, Nobuyuki and his younger
self enjoyed a quite family Christmas together. For five minutes Tenchi
enjoyed his mother and then
the scene flickered and switched to baby Tenchi in his mother’s arms,
sitting on the porch under a
star lit sky. She was singing to him. "Sleep my Tenchi. Close your little
eyes and sleep." She
had such a pretty voice.
Nobuyuki smiled as his past self emerged from the house with two
glasses of tea. He sat down next
to her, giving her a quickly kiss on the cheek. He handed her the glass of
tea which she took with
her free hand.
"Thank you Nobuyuki."
"You’re welcome." Both Nobuyuki’s said in unison.
"How’s our son doing?"
"He’s finally asleep. Little cranky butt." Achika whispered, smiling
at the sleeping baby.
Tenchi chuckled.
"He likes it when you sing to him." Past Nobuyuki said.
"I do." Tenchi whispered, nodding. He wiped his tears again.
"Well he heard my song six times tonight. Guess I bored him to sleep
finally." Achika said,
sipping her tea. "He takes after you you know."
"Are you calling me boring?" Nobuyuki said. Achika leaned back into him
with a smile.
"Hardly," She said, kissing Nobuyuki’s neck. "I love you."
"I love you too." Both Nobuyuki’s spoke.
Nobuyuki removed his glasses and wiped his face of tears, rubbing his
eyes. He replaced his
glasses then the scene flickered and changed again. A nine year old Achika
came running up the path
toward the porch they were sitting on. Someone called out her name from
behind. Youshou smiled at
his voice calling out his daughter’s name.
"I’m coming papa!" she said, scurrying up to the porch.
Youshou opened his arms to receive his daughter. She opened her arms
and ran through him to the
past Youshou. Present Youshou closes his arms as if he had hugged her. The
past Youshou grabbed on
to her and swung her around a few times. She giggled and Youshou kissed her
on the forehead.
"You’re mother was starting to worry about you."
"I was playing with the fishes. They’re fun!" She smiled cutely.
"Well let’s go eat. She has prepared a special meal tonight." Youshou
said, putting Achika on
his shoulders and entering the house.
The scene flickered again. Achika was much older now, dressed in a high
school graduation robe.
She stared at herself in the full length mirror. There was a knock at the door.
"Come in." she said.
Youshou and Nobuyuki entered her room. Nobuyuki was dressed in an
identical graduation robe,
Youshou dressed in a tuxedo.
"Look at you. My grown up girl." Youshou smiled.
"You look pretty in that Achika." Nobuyuki said, giving her a warm hug.
"And you are handsome." She kissed him and he blushed. Youshou
chuckled. The scene flickered out
again and was replaced by an outdoor scene, before the shrine. Many people
were gathered and they
stood as music started to play. The turned their heads to watch as Achika
appeared at the top of the
stairs, dressed in a gorgeous white wedding gown. She made her way down the
path and joined past
Nobuyuki at the altar.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here on this glorious day to join
together this man and woman in
the bonds of holy matrimony. Forever, from this day forth shall they share
their lives with each
other. Speak your words to each other."
Nobuyuki smiled at his wife and had to remove his glasses again to wipe
his eyes clear. His past
self turned to face her, taking her hands in his.
"Achika, you are my first and only love. I would give my life for you
and more. I will forever be
by your side no matter how far apart we may travel. I want you and no other
for as long as I should
live and even then I hope we will be together. I love you."
Achika had to wipe the tears threatening to overflow from her eyes.
"You are my first and only love as well Nobuyuki. To you I give my
life and forever shall I stay
by your side, even if I should pass from this world into the next. I will
love you and no other." She
said.
The ring bearer came to the altar and the priest took them, holding the
beautiful pieces of
jewelry up.
"These rings, forged of circles, forever joined together. This is the
symbol of their love and
their devotion to each other. Nobuyuki, take this ring and place it on
Achika’s finger and repeat after
me."
He did so giving her hand a loving squeeze.
"I, Nobuyuki Masaki, take you Achika Misaka to be my wife for all
eternity, to love and honor
you even into the next life." the priest said. Nobuyuki repeated his vows
flawlessly.
The priest handed Achika her ring. "Repeat after me. I, Achika
Misaka, take this man Nobuyuki
Masaki as my own, to love and honor him for all eternity." the priest spoke
again. She repeated her
vows, tears on her cheeks.
"Under the eyes of God and these witnesses gathered here today I now
pronounce you husband and
wife."
Nobuyuki turned to her and she to him. They leaned in and proceeded
into a warm long passionate
kiss. Cheers erupted from the audience then suddenly the scene flickered
into a new one. It was a
bedroom. Achika laid in the bed staring out the window. Little Tenchi
walked into the room
frowning. Achika looked over and smiled.
"Come here Tenchi."
Tenchi walked over to her slowly. She sat up and pulled him up into
her lap.
"Daddy says you’re going away." Little Tenchi said.
"I have to my little Tenchi." Achika said, stroking his hair.
"Where are you going?"
"Someplace special where I will be waiting for you, where I can watch
over you always."
"Why can’t you stay here?"
"I am sick Tenchi. I have to go to a place where I will be better."
"Can’t I come with you?" he said.
"I need you to stay here and help out your father."
Tenchi thought this over a moment then hugged his mother.
"Okay mommy. I don’t want you to be sick anymore."
She hugged him close, a tear escaping from her left eye.
"Just remember Tenchi, no matter where you are, I will always be with
you. I love you so very
much."
Then the scene flickered out of existence and Tenchi was left sitting
on the floor of the room
Washuu had built. The spinning ring came to a stop and the orb stopped
glowing. Tenchi continued to
stare where Achika had been.
"I know mom. I can feel you here now." Tenchi sniffled and wiped his
wet face on his sleeve. He
stood up and turned, giving Washuu a tender hug. "Thank you Washuu. I will
never forget this."
Nobuyuki hugged her next then Youshou.
The party finished an hour later, the Christmas tree’s lights were
turned off and everyone went
to bed. Kiyone and Mihoshi crashed in the living room, wrapped up in
sleeping bags. Upstairs, Tenchi
laid in his bed, snuggled up with a certain red robot, a smile on his face
as he slept. On his night
stand, a picture of Achika watched over him next to a picture of his best
friends.
THE END
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AFTERWARD: I spent 3 days writing on this, nearly ten hours a day because
it was in my heart
and I wanted to share it with everyone else. Even as I write the words THE
END I am having
trouble seeing the screen through teary eyes. I made myself cry writing my
own story. I hope
I can get something out everyone else. Please send E-mail responses to:
geosword@usa.net
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WASHUU: Lineage... Social status... why should these
things matter? That's how grown ups are...
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oo President of the TEARS FOR TENCHI club, ;_; oo
oo Member of M.A.S., MEN AGAINST SHAMPOO! oo
oo Devoted worshipper of KAWAII anime girlies! oo
oo President of ANIME NATION! oo
oo Holder of the sacred P-chan plushie! oo
oo Keeper of the Carrot Basket! oo
oo Member of #AAS# - Achika Appreciation Society! oo
oo Grand Sardine of the Nuku-Nuku Fan Club oo
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Advice for the day: Don't make super bounce balls out of
nitroglyisern.