Tenchi Muyo (All Good Things)
Copyright© 2009 by Dreaming Bear
Chapter 107: Love and betrayal
"Ryo-oki!" The image of young Ryoko projected. Having seated herself directly upon the main deck of the now dead tree ship. Sitting on the very place where only too recently she and Arin had made love. Holding onto Kagito who seemed barely able to remain conscience.
From where she was observing Ena gave a guilty start.
After all the scene before them was so similar to her time with Azusa aboard the dreadnought Odan!
"Ryo-oki!" younger version of Ryoko projected again visibly quaking from the strain of keeping her emotions in check.
Her mental call tinged with desperation.
"COME!"
"My partner arrived about four hours latter." Ryoko's narration resumed even as the image of the Cabbit ship grew swiftly larger as Ryo-oki rocketed to rendezvous with the crippled treeship.
"We transferred abroad." Her voice continued dully.
"And then returned to the Soja. The next few days were kind of tough I got to tell yah.
Of all the things Arin had taught me, playing nursemaid, to him or anyone just wasn't on the list.
Plus it seemed he had lost his will to live!
But I did my best! I can tell you that!
Guess it was a good thing the galley aboard was well stocked!"
Ena did find a moment of amusement, watching as the image of the younger Ryoko struggled in an area for which she'd never be prepared. Puzzling over utensils pots and pans.
It was clear most of her efforts how ever well intentioned were inedible. Some being born amid rolling clouds of smoke!
"It's only over the last two years that I learned to cook at all! And Tenchi and Sasami had to practically use a whip!"
"HEY!" Ryoko yelled from where she floated beside Ena.
Then immediately stopped at the bemused look which greeted her effort. She settled instead in to an sulk, angrily considering the ultimate author of the comment. Bad enough to have to have to endure this, but to be convicted by her own memories in front of someone? That had to be the worst!
"Little by little He seemed to at last regain some measure of strength." The disembodied voice of her memories resumed.
"At first I was elated!
But Arin seemed different now, changed by what had happened on Jurai.
Cold, aloof and uncaring.
In the weeks that followed as he recovered I was soon to find he was a man forever changed.
Physically he appeared some thirty years older, and seemed counter-measuringly weak.
Though rapidly we both discovered he'd a new source of terrible vigor.
One fueled by a burning hatred of all things Jurian! It was with that mindset my tasks began anew!
Only this time material riches, plunder nor frivolity had any part of the agenda's Arin would now set for me.
'Go and retrieve this scroll, or fetch me that ancient text!'
'I have heard tell of a mystic goblet that restores life. Find it and bring it here!'
On and on Arin obsessed, sending me on one mad excursion after another!
Each rabidly concerned with the notion of restoring his health and youth!
And each ultimately as doomed to fail!"
"That is no way for a young girl to reach woman hood." Ena mused quietly, disrupting the narration. Bringing the shifting parade of images swirling about them to a halt.
Noting towards the end of the last series, Ryoko was starting to appear much as she did now. Perhaps, a tad wilder but definitely no longer a child!
"You had to endure almost twenty years of this!" Ena fixed her with the most poignant of gazes.
"Oh Ryoko!" She almost cried.
"You poor sweet girl! You must have loved him so!"
"He was all I had ever known..." Ryoko sighed.
"Worse yet," The purely mental 'voice over' resumed.
"With each maniacal notion shattered, Arin became more frustrated and vengefully cruel.
Even to the point he began physical punishing me!
Always saying 'it was my stupidity and lack of initiative that was surly killing him!'
Rapidly weakening he was finally forced to employ variants of Jurian 'time freeze' technology to simply preserve himself.
Gambling he could buy enough time, live long enough to effect a cure!
It was sometime during this point while I was away, he must have dug deep into Washu's research on my gems!
I had just returned from my exploits Clarion, having..."
"EXPLOITS!" Ena suddenly gasped, turning to gaze astonished at Ryoko's current self.
"You set most of their southern continent ablaze!"
In response across from her Ryoko squirmed uncomfortably.
"All because they wouldn't just 'hand over' their solar collector technology!" She replied bitterly.
"That Arin just had to have!"
"Forgive me..." Ena told her recovering. "I forget that you are clearly no longer the creature you once were!"
"No." Ryoko agreed quietly. "And I will have to live for the rest of my life knowing how I earned being called Ryoko the devil caller, Space pirate, marauder death bringer!"
"Let us resume." Ena said soothingly, though clearly shaken her self.
"I sense we are nearing a resolution."
"Having, seen neither hide nor hair of him in over two years!" Ryoko's voice resumed.
"He barely even greeted me, just ordered me to my rest chamber.
Saying I would soon need my strength! All too soon I would know exactly what he meant!"
"No!" Ryoko uttered. Feeling a nameless dread at what she would soon see.
"You must..." Ena told her gently. "All of it!"
"He awoke me the next morning, though I suppose that's a silly notion. Having neither night nor day within the depth of space. Far from dire Arin's mood seemed positively buoyant.
He greeted and showed me with the affection I had so long for! In the flush of these moment, he led me to his chambers where he made love to me for the first time in years!
He bathed me, clothed me in raiment's befitting some queen!
For a few precious hours it was as if the years since his humbling before the emperor had all but vanished!
Till seeming filled with a deep remorse I was led unprotesting and happy to the very chamber where I was born!"
"What is this?" the image of Ryoko asked gesturing to the monstrous complex now dominating the chamber.
More than anything it reminded Ena of some monstrous pipe organ, with elements of a public hygiene facility welded haphazardly on. Two chambers were configured prominently towards the front. Composed of some smoky yet clear material, resembling leaded crystal.
"A surprise!" Kagito told Ryoko smiling. "I have deduced finally a way to reverse my degeneration."
"Thats," Ryoko paused looking deep into his eyes, before breaking into a brilliant smile.
"THAT'S WONDERFUL!" She exclaimed, almost seeming to dance. "When? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I needed you to be rested!" He replied calmly. "Because you see, I'll be needing your help."
"FANTASTIC!" Ryoko instanly elated. "What do I have to do?"
"You will go there." He pointed to the left of the two chambers.
"And I will go there." He then indicated the one to the right.
"On my signal you will power up," Kagito paused gently brushing the gem on her forehead. "And the machine will draw energy from your gems to revitalize my life force!"
Ryoko continued to look at him excitedly.
"That's all?" She asked.
"More or less." He nodded. "The chrysalis will transform the energies making them more suitable for my body!"
"Well, lets get started!" She gushed, starting to walk to her intended side of the machine.
"OH GOD!" The current version of Ryoko suddenly groaned.
"You can not turn away!" Ena began harshly. Instantly worried about the memories effects, they were clearly approaching a critical point!
"ITS NOT THAT!" Ryoko almost appeared to be gagging. "She reminds me of Mihoshi!"
"Lord! Was I ever THAT Gung-ho?" She managed to sullenly add.
"If you insist..." Kagito smiled, Even as Ena stared at the current Ryoko oddly.
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