5 of five, this is all that's been written up to now.  Tell me if u have any 
problems getting this fic.  =)

LT


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Tenchi Muyo: Ryoko's Love
Chapter 5A: Startica Festival
By Long T. Tran (Evil Dr. Tran)



Disclaimer:

	The Characters you're about to read are created and owned by AIC/ Pioneer.  This fic written just for entertainment purposes and not for moneymaking.


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The New Ryu-oh


	A few thousand kilometers away, the newly restored Ryu-oh is nearly approaching her destination of Planet Jurai.  Inside the ship's dome environment, on a small knoll just across from the ship's quarters,  Tenchi Masaki laid and watched through the dome's glass.  In silent awe of Jurai's growing size and beauty, he kept his eyes glued on the purple-blue two ringed planet. 

	Tenchi sighed contently.  The new Ryu-oh was a very silent ship compared to the first one, he expected the ride to be rough since it was his first real trip into outer space.  Usually, the most he'd spent in outer space would involve rescuing his loved ones from a 
kidnapper.  At the moment, Washu and Sasami were in the living quarters discussing all the fun stuff to do at Jurai's Startica Festival.  Ryoko was wondering around the dome environs with Ryo-ohki tagging along.  Yosho and Nobuyuki were left behind on earth, they weren't in the mood to go out on a space trip especially Yosho.  Yosho seemed very apprehensive when he was asked by Aeka to revisit Jurai.  Anyways,  Tenchi was not going to touch his Grandfather's enigmatic behavior with a twenty-foot pole.

	Laying there on the grass,  Tenchi stared at the ever closing 
purple-bluish 2 ringed planet of Jurai.  Suddenly, Ryoko's familiar form appeared next him, lying against his right; shoulder to shoulder.

	"Hello, Tenchi honey."  Ryoko greeted happily.

	"Hello, Ryoko."

	"Gazing at Jurai?"

	"Yep, I've never seen it before.  It's a very beautiful planet, I can't believe that part of my heritage is related to the Royal family."

	Ryoko chuckled. "Heh, I suppose it can be a big deal to you.  After all, you thought that you were a full-blooded-country-boy-earthling all your life."

	Tenchi turned on his side suddenly and gave Ryoko a stern but happy gaze. "Oh, country boy, eh?  How would you like it if I did this. Huh?"

	Tenchi proceeded closer and tickled Ryoko's side.  Ryoko laughed 
full hearted and hugged herself with each ticklish movement of Tenchi's hands along her ribs. 

	"HAHAHA! OKAY! HAHAHA! OKAY! STOP HAHAHA!"

	Tenchi smiled deviously. "Hehe.  No."  He continued to tickle Ryoko further. 

	Ryoko yelped and laughed helplessly.  Tenchi stopped his playfulness and his face lit up and smiled.  He reached into the pocket of his pants.

	Ryoko looked on curiously as Tenchi brought out a small pocket folder.

	"What is that, Tenchi?"

	"These are photos from our Naroda beach date."

	"Ooh really!  Let me see, let me see!"

	Tenchi took the pictures out of the small folder and handed them to Ryoko.  Ryoko looked at the photographs and found that all of them had nothing but her in the pictures.  One of the of the more surprising photos were taken of her while she was asleep at the beach house.  Tenchi noticed that Ryoko was looking at the pictures that showed her sleeping.  

	Tenchi smiled.  "Those are my favorites."

	Ryoko looked up.  "Oh and why is that, hmmm?"

	Tenchi blushed and looked at the photos that were in Ryoko's hands.

	"Well, uh, I like those pictures of you sleeping because you looked so quiet and serene and...blah, blah, blah, blah."

	As Tenchi expressed his thoughts, Ryoko had her eyes locked onto him, she couldn't hold in her smile and overwhelming joy. The mere thought of Tenchi finally being with her was enough to make her float.  Tenchi kept on talking and Ryoko continued to stare at him.  The demoness was fully hypnotized by his brown eyes and warm presence.

	Tenchi looked up from the photos and saw that Ryoko was staring at him with glowing eyes.  She was so focused onto him she didn't flinch when Tenchi looked at her.  "Uh, Ryoko?  Are you okay."

	Ryoko smiled and her eyebrows turned devious. "Kiss me, Tenchi!"

	Tenchi was typically thrown off by her light-hearted demand and decided to play with her a little.  "Umm..., now?"  He asked dumbly.

	"Yes, now."

	"I don't know about this Ryoko.  I don't really think this the place we should be doing that."

	<Oh!  So that's how he wants to play it!> Ryoko figured out.  <He teasing me!  Well, two can play it at that game!>      

	Ryoko straightened out.  "Okay, I understand.  Fine,  I'm not good enough to be kissed by you.  I know now that you only want to be kissed until you deem it proper."

	Ryoko saw through the corner of her eye that Tenchi's jaw had dropped and his eyes slightly bulged out.  "Uh, well..." He stammered. "I didn't mean that way."

	Ryoko turned away from Tenchi and hid her face in her hands and faked a cry.  "No, no!  Don't even try!  I'm not really all that beautiful!  If I was as beautiful as that Namie Amuro, you'd kiss me in a Tokyo minute!  Oh!  Boohoohoohoo!  I can't believe you're that superficial Tenchi!  I thought you were better then that!  Booohoohoohoohoo!"

	"I'm so sorry, Ryoko!  I was just, uh..., um..."  Tenchi began to panic.

	As Tenchi struggled to re-gather his thoughts and recover from his back-fired plan, Ryoko suddenly turned around and planted a warm, passionate kiss onto him.  Momentarily dumbfounded, Tenchi immediately knew that Ryoko had tricked him, he responded by holding her tighter and kissed her in return.  As the two lovebirds kissed, the Ryu-oh had already breached Jurai's atmosphere. 

	Aeka stared at one of the ship's monitors, an image of Tenchi and Ryoko kissing, twisted the young princess's heart painfully.

	<Why do I keep re-opening old wounds to torture myself!>  Aeka thought angrily and switched off the monitor that displayed Tenchi and her former rival. 

	"We have landed, Princess Aeka."  Shoji stated as he placed and switched off the ship's biologic controls.      

	"Thank you, Shoji."  Aeka said and sighed.  "Home sweet home.  Let us go and tell the others."

	"Yes, your highness."  Shoji complied. 

	As the two walked down the pathway towards the living quarters both were silent.  For the past few since Tenchi and Ryoko's date,  Shoji had decided that he had been getting too personal into Aeka's personal life.  He will not speak unless spoken too.

	"Shoji?"  The princess asked.

	"Yes, Princess Aeka?"

	"You have been silent for nearly three days, is there anything bothering you?"  

	"No, your highness, nothing's bothering me.  I just assumed you didn't want to be disturbed because of your departure from Earth."

	Aeka smiled but only slightly.  "Yes, I am abit sad about departing earth I have a lot of joyful memories and even sad ones..."

	The two were silent as they walked, finally reached the doors that led to the environs of Ryu-oh.


The Great Hall of Jurai


	The great gates that led into the throne room opened and behind the huge doors, all the royal advisers, royal subjects and various servants were already gathered to welcome back the two princesses.


Ryoko and Sasami 


	The little princess guided Ryoko into the Palace's tailor room.  As they walked in Ryoko was not prepared by the sheer abundance in volume various fabrics and wardrobes that were on display. 


Startica Festival


	The Royal family was cordially escorted to the parade gathering area.  The king and his two queens headed to the main float and Sasami, Aeka, and Shoji decided to walk with the paraders.  Tenchi, Ryoko, and Washu gladly accepted an off from the parade organizer to be on the float.   


Jurai's Tree Gala


	The main event for the Royal family was the Bolero Dance most of the traditions that were involved with Startica was the Royal family's participation in the ritual.  Most of the royal palace's space trees were moved from the Tree hall and to the ancient arena-like garden.


Tempest


	"Who the hell are you!?!"  Ryoko demanded at the mysterious figure who stood in the shadows of the alleyways. 

	"I am your new rival, Ryoko."

	"Rival?  The hell do you mean?"

	The shadow smirked.  "I'm your new rival for Tenchi Masaki." 

	The figure stepped out of the shadows to reveal her identity to Ryoko.  Ryoko was stunned by the mysterious lady's striking resemblance to Washu.  The differences between her Washu and this lady is that the stranger was mature in physical appearance, shorter hair (to the base of the neck), her hairdo didn't resemble a shape of a crab and her green eyes emitted an uneasy malevolent aura.  

	Ryoko laughed.  "HA! Don't' make me laugh!  You're a total stranger to him.  Besides, you're too late!"

	The stranger's emerald eyes narrowed and chuckled slightly. "You have it all wrong."

	Ryoko stopped laughing by just the serious sound of the stranger's pervasive voice.  "Excuse me?"  

	"I'm not after Tenchi's heart, I'm just after his sheer strength.  Once I have that, you can have whatever's useless."

	"If you as much as lay a finger on Tenchi, I swear,  I'll be the last person you'd want to mess with."  Ryoko warned. 

	The enigmatic woman stepped forward towards Ryoko. "Why be the last?  I intend to make you the first.  Whether the method I choose is peaceful or violent.  I'm bored with doing it the diplomatic way, let's do it the way I've always enjoyed it.  Violent."

	The red headed challenger drew out her right hand and formed a dark blade.  Ryoko stepped back, materialized into her red/black battle suit and immediately drew out her crimson energy blade.

	"By the way, my name's Onimaru.  I'm ready whenever you are."

	Ryoko tensed and readied herself for the imminent fight.  She gazed at her blade and tried to remember the last time she drew her weapon. Then she looked up at her opponent. "Bring it on."

	Without a word, hint, or signal of warning, Onimaru charged at Ryoko at a blinding speed.  Their blades met and Ryoko stood her ground firmly.  Ryoko found herself in a pushing contest with Onimaru, assessing her opponent's strength, Ryoko knew that the match will not  be easy.  

	"You're pretty strong, Ryoko.  I can see that this is going to turn out really interesting."

	"Hmph.  I don't share in your sick interests."

	Suddenly, her opponent sweep kicked Ryoko's right side, slamming her to a nearby tree.  The force of the impact knocked Ryoko's senses, immediately, she regained her focus and saw Onimaru coming straight at her.  Ryoko quickly ducked as Onimaru swung her blade at Ryoko,  which missed her and sliced the tree in half.  

	Meanwhile, back in the main royal palace, Shoji finally reached Aeka's room.   


To be continued...


Forevermore

Original Japanese Lyrics: Natsuko Karedo
Composed & Arranged by Seikou Nagaoka
Vocal: Ai Orikasa

Feel the wind... feel the sun
And our new day has only begun
On the sand... by the sea
It's a peaceful oasis made for you and for me
Take my hand...

This place was always waiting
This beauty all around us
The air intoxicating
Just like the love that found us

* Let's forget who we've been
And give into the dream
Maybe life is a song
That's how it seems...

And forevermore we'll hear the music play
Yes forevermore I'll take you in my arms this way
And forevermore we'll know the melody
We will sing forevermore, just like the peaceful sea

Past the clouds... past the sky
We can only imagine what great mysteries lie
Other moons... other stars
Close your eyes and together we'll go wandering far
Take my hand...

This miracle's undying 
It never will forsake us
We'll always keep on flying
Wherever love may take us

(* Repeat)


Author's Notes: 


I would like to give special Thanks to Akodo X for providing the 
lyrics of Forevermore.  VERY Special thanks goes out to my editor, 
my online editor Random and BGCrisis.  And to my Pre-readers, RyokoMR, Cman, and BGlanders