First off, thank you for all the C&C.

Second off, I'm sorry if the first chapter was a bit confusing and seemed a
little OOC (several folks commented on that)  But dont worry, it gets worse.
^_^

This chapter should make things start to get a little more into focus.. there
is a scene with Sasami that may not make much sense (namely, her seemingly
instant mood swing)  Don't start ripping on it just yet...ch three explains it
since its through her eyes.

Enjoy!

BGlanders

The Gentle Sound of Thunder

By BGlanders

Chapter Two: Through Tenchi's eyes

*****

I remember that it had looked like it was going to be a beautiful day.

I had woken up early to try to get to the restroom without being harassed, and
low and behold not a soul was in sight.  In fact, I didn't see anyone until I
finally made it downstairs and saw Sasami cooking breakfast.

"Good morning, Tenchi!"

"Good morning, Sasami," I told her.  "You're up awfully early."  According to
the microwave, it was only seven.  Usually no one but grandpa was up this
early.

"I know.  I couldn't sleep, so I decided to cook."  I could see that Sasami
was forcing a smile at me and trying not to look me in the eye.  I went over
to her, put my hand on her shoulder and asked her, "Sasami, what's wrong?"

She broke down right then and there.  She just started bawling and buried her
face in my shirt.  I hugged her and tried to calm her down, but I don't think
it did any good.  "Oh Tenchi!  I..I've had the mo..most horrible
dre..dre..dreams!  I didn't know wh..who to talk to and I..I.."

She broke out with a fresh string of tears and I hugged her even tighter.  We
must have stayed like that for a good ten minutes before she finally calmed
down.  It absolutely floored me.  I had hardly ever seen Sasami get so upset
over something, especially a dream.  She was always so happy, so full of life
that to see her cry went through me like a thousand daggers all at once.

I took her tiny hand in mine and led her out to the back porch.  I figured
that maybe it would be good for her to get outside and clear her mind.

"Do you want to talk about it?"  I asked her.

She sniffed for awhile and just stared at her feet.  Then she finally said
something.  "Tenchi, I had a dream..I dreamed that Aeka and Ryoko were doing
the Jenna-Hotaru and that you were involved too!  And Ryoko...!"

I stopped her.  "The Jenna-Hotaru?  What's that?"

She sniffed again and looked at me with two sad pink orbs.  Before she could
answer, I heard footsteps from inside the kitchen.  "Come on Sasami, let's go
back inside.  Besides, this Jenna-Hotaru thing can't be all that bad, now can
it?"  She grabbed my sleeve and tried to make me stay.  "No, you don't
understand..!"

I picked her up and patted her head. "You're right, I don't.  Sasami, don't
let it trouble you.  I'm sure everything is fine.  Now let's go inside and
have some breakfast, shall we?"

I knew I probaly should have paid more attention, but I needed her to calm
down and more importaintly, I needed to see her smile.  At least I got one of
the two to happen.  She finally nodded her little head and I led her by the
hand back into the kitchen.

When we got inside, I saw Ryoko and Aeka already seated at the table.  Aeka
was dressed in a black kimono and her hair was in a single ponytail.  Ryoko
was in her battle suit.  Something was definitely up, you can always tell when
something major is about to happen, but at the time, I didn't think..

"Good morning, girls."  I tried to put as much cheer as I could into my voice.
The kitchen was as quiet and as somber as a grave.  "Good morning, Tenchi."
They said quietly in unison.  Neither one of them looked away from each other,
in fact they didn't even seem to notice when Sasami put breakfast on the
table.  I was starting to get nervous.  This wasn't typical behavior for Aeka
and Ryoko.  By now both should have been fighting or name-calling or something
along those lines, but this silence thing was just plain creepy.  

And the uniforms..

After breakfast, both girls stood and made their way outside.  I was curious,
so I decided to follow to see what was going on.  They both walked to opposite
ends of the yard, faced each other, bowed, then..

Then all hell broke loose.

Aeka suddenly screamed a battle cry and unleashed a force bolt.  I didn't even
know she was capable of such a feat.  Later on I learned it was a highly
concentrated force field, but I guess it doesn't really matter now..

Ryoko dodged and let loose with her own barrage.  At first I thought they were
just practicing, but then I saw the looks on their faces, the hate and
determination in their eyes.  I knew that this was for keeps.

I saw that Aeka had activated what looked like a light saber.  Only then I
realized that it was her force field yet again.  Obviously she was pushing the
boundries of her own power.  I had never even imagined that she was capable of
such a feat..

Anyway, she charged and Ryoko met her with her own light saber.  The two
fought for a good length of time, but it was clear that Ryoko was winning.  As
trained as Aeka was, Ryoko's years of experience were showing through.
Finally Ryoko landed a blow to Aeka's side, cutting her deeply.

I had seen enough.  I already had the Master Key in my hand, so I activated it
and jumped between the two.  I didn't know why they were fighting to this
extent, but I knew that it had to stop now, or else someone was going to die. 

"That's enough Ryoko."  I tried to see how badly Aeka was hurt.  Then I
noticed that the Guardians were only twenty feet away, but not lifting a
finger to help (assuming that they have fingers).  

"Ryoko looked stunned that I had tried to stop them.  She was so thrown by
what I had done that she almost deactivated her sword when I jumped between
the two.  "Tenchi?  What are you doing?"

"I'm stopping you before you do something we'll all regret."

"Tenchi, this doesn't concern you.  Just walk away Tenchi, please.  I don't
want to see you hurt."

I stood my ground.  Behind me I could hear Aeka moaning in pain.  "Are you
insane Ryoko?  You could've killed her!"

"And I would have if you hadn't interfered!"

"WHAT?!"  I screamed.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  "You're saying
that you wanted to kill her?  Why?"

Ryoko suddenly assumed a battle stance and looked me dead in the eye.  "Unless
you want to take her place, I'd advise you to move.  Now."

"If that's what it takes, then I will take her place!  Ryoko this is madness!"

She froze a look of terror shot across her face.  "Tenchi!  No, you can't mean
that!  Please Tenchi, take it back now!"

I refused.  There was no way I would let her kill Aeka.

"This is your last warning Ryoko.  Back away or else!"

"Tenchi please, for the last time, I will not back down.  You just don't
understand..!"  

"You're right, I don't.  Right now, all I know is that someone I care about is
about to die, and I can't let that happen."

When I said that, she looked as if a thunderbolt had just torn through her
heart.  "Tenchi, no... you can't mean that.."

"I can and I do.  Now put your sword down and we'll talk about this."

Ryoko raised her sword as the tears were streaming down her face.  "Please!
You don't know what you're doing!  DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS!!!"  

That's when she charged.  I reacted out of instinct, I didn't even know that I
was stabbing her.  I saw my sword go right through her throat.  Her eyes went
wide and tears were streaming down her cheeks.  I saw her mouth my name,
then..

Then...

The next thing I remember is grandpa holding me while I was sobbing. He helped
me into the house and up to my room.  I just lay on the bed and wept at what I
had done.  I still couldn't believe that I had killed her, that it had come
down to that.  I could still see her face in my head, those eyes that were
full of sadness.

I knew what I had to do.

I started to pack my travel bag with some necessary items and changed into my
travel clothes.  I took some yen that I had been saving out of a jar and took
one last look around my room.  All my posters, books, all my belongings, they
seemed so trivial.  None of it was worth a damn next to her life.  Her life..

I sat down at my desk and tried to write a note to dad and grandpa to try and
explain why I was leaving.  It was hard trying to find the right words, but
eventually I got them out.  I knew that even if dad didn't, grandpa would
understand.  I set the note on the kitchen table and tried to leave before
anyone noticed me.  As I walked through the living room, I saw Aeka sitting on
the living room sofa.  She was waiting for me.  Damn, I was hoping to avoid
this.  I didn't want to talk to any of them..

As soon as she saw me, Aeka lept from the sofa and tried to block my way out.
She just gave me a look that screamed disappear.  I stopped when she put
herself between me and the door.  She was begging with me, pleading for me not
to go.  She was saying that it wasn't my fault, that I couldn't help what had
happened.

I looked at her with the coldest expression I could gather.  "If it wasn't my
fault, then whose was it?  Hers?  Yours?  All of your fighting, all of your
jealously, its all come down to this.  As long as I feel that her death was
somehow my fault, I won't be able to go on.  Not here, at least.  I'm leaving
now, and I don't want you or anyone else to try and follow.  If I ever come to
terms with what happened, then maybe I'll return someday, but until then..."

Aeka was clinging to my jacket and sobbing uncontrollably.  I couldn't
understand what she was saying, and at the moment, I didn't care.  Nothing
could bring Ryoko back, not her explanations or Sasami's dreams or my soul
searching.  I pushed her aside and walked out the door.  

As I made my way down the path to the bus terminal, I tried not to look back
at the house, at my family.  I just kept going, all the while trying to see
through the tears that just kept coming.

After awhile it started to rain.

In the distance, I could hear thunder.

*****

Tenchi & Co. belong to AiC and Pioneer.

The story, however, is MINE.

Check out my other 2 series in progress..

Masaki Inc 
The Devil & Mr. Masaki

Some feedback would be greatly appricated!

BGlanders@aol.com