All characters trademark and copyright 1999 AIC and Pioneer.
The Apprentice
by
W*ING Higley
�You�re what?� screamed Tenchi.
�Leaving,� was Ayeka�s simple reply. She tried desperately not to convey any
emotion, but the sorrow in her voice made her inner pain all too clear.
�Why.,� Tenchi asked, still trying to digest the news.
�For the last 700 years, my sister and I have neglected our duties as members of
the royal family of Jurai. First it was searching for Yosho, then staying here on Earth
with you Tenchi. Our father, Azuza, has decided that time is now at an end. As of today,
Sasami and I are the new Jurian ambassadors to the Republic Senate.�
�Republic Senate? Ayeka, I thought Jurai ruled the entire galaxy.�
�That would be nice, wouldn�t it Tenchi.� Ayeka smiled ironically. �I am afraid
that on occasion our family, Sasami and I included, have had a nasty habit of
exaggerating the extent of our family�s influence.�
�In reality, the House of Jurai controls most of the outer sections of the galaxy,
Sol System included. But we do not rule over all of the Milky Way. There are many,
many independent empires and self-governed planets. We just happen to be the most
powerful empire in the Milky Way, but we do not have final say over everything that
happens in this galaxy.�
�But why must you and Sasami become the new ambassadors? Can�t they send
someone else.�
�I�m afraid not. It seems that a dispute over the succession to Supreme
Chancellor of the Republic Senate has erupted. The former Chancellor was forced to
step down six weeks ago, and there are several parties now vying for control. In matters
such as these, only members of the Royal Family are fit to weigh in on who should be the
next Supreme Chancellor.�
Tenchi looked at her with deep sorrow. �Ayeka....I....� he couldn�t put what he
wanted to say into words. He still wasn�t sure exactly how he felt about Ayeka, whether
he loved her or whether he loved Ryoko, but he had come to depend on Ayeka to be the
great calming force in his life, able to give a sense of order from the chaos that had
become Tenchi�s life.
�Will.....will you ever come back?� was what he finally managed to spurt out.
�I..don�t think so, Tenchi.� Ayeka�s face gained a bittersweet smile. �Father has
made it clear this will be a somewhat permanent post for Sasami and I. Ever since my
parents first visited this planet, I knew that this was inevitable. I simply didn�t want to
admit it. I�m sorry Tenchi.�
�When do you have to go?�
�Tonight. A shuttlecraft will pick us up at 9:00 p.m. sharp.� She smiled again.
�At least Ryoko won�t be there to gloat.�
Tenchi nodded. He, of all people, had been surprised when Ryoko had asked to
accompany Nobuyuki on his annual fishing trip by the seaside. They weren�t due to
return for another three days.
************************************************************************
That night, many a tear was shed as the Misaki �family� said goodbye to Ayeka
and Sasami. Mihoshi had been worst of all, bawling her eyes out until she finally
excused herself, lamely saying she was due for patrol.
Yosho wore his usual mask of indifference. He looked solemnly at Ayeka. �You
do me proud Ayeka. I could never do what you do now.�
�Thank you..� Ayeka looked at Tenchi. �Take care of him, brother. He is the
last male of the royal bloodline, and it is important that the House of Jurai continue.�
Yosho nodded solemnly. �I understand. And...I�m sorry. If I had not shunned
my responsibility so many years ago, you may not now be put in this position.�
Ayeka smiled and shook her head. �Don�t be sorry, Yosho. If you hadn�t
traveled to Earth, Tenchi would have never been born, and I would have never been
given the opportunity to meet him.....� she turned to Tenchi, �and fallen in love with
him.�
Tenchi simply stood there, stunned at this revelation. He knew Ayeka cared
about him, but he always had thought that her declarations of love had been bluster
spurred on by her fights with Ryoko.
�Ayeka....I...I don�t know what to say....I....�
�Shh,� Ayeka said, putting a finger to his lips to silence him. �Don�t say
anything, my Tenchi. We were never meant to be, there were too many forces working
to keep us apart. Goodbye, my love.�
With that, she kissed him quickly, then teleported away. Sasami simply hugged
Tenchi around the waist, then beamed herself too. The shuttlecraft hovered briefly, then
shot skywards, taking Ayeka and Sasami out of Tenchi�s life, seemingly forever.
************************************************************************
�Tenchi! Look what I�ve got!� Ryoko shouted cheerfully as she and Nobuyuki
got out of the Misaki family van. �I�ve got some nice blowfish here!� Her exuberance
was short lived as she saw Tenchi sitting under Funaho, a vacant and pained look etched
on his face.
�Tenchi...?�
�Don�t bother him now, Ryoko,� Washu said.
�Mom, what�s wrong with him?� Ryoko was stunned. She had never seen
Tenchi look this depressed before.
Washu quickly explained the situation to her �daughter.�
�I think it would be best if you stayed out of sight for a few more days, my dear.
The last thing he needs right now if you hanging all over him.�
�I...I...yeah, I guess you�re right.� She was silent for a moment, doing mental
calculations in her head. �That�s alright, I needed to take Ryo-ohki out of the Sol System
for a few days anyways.�
Washu looked surprised. �Oh, any reason why?�
�I have to deliver something to an old friend of mine. In fact, one of the reasons I
went with Nobuyuki was to get something he requested.�
�He?� Washu asked coyly.
�Don�t get any ideas mom,� Ryoko said, rather annoyed. �He�s just a friend I
made after I left Earth to put myself back together after the bonding with Zero. He really
helped me sort out my feelings and get my head back on straight.�
Washu was silent for a moment. After the battle with Dr. Clay, Ryoko had taken
Ryo-ohki to �find herself,� as she put it. The bonding with Zero had turned her into a
giddy school girl, and Ryoko became so desperate that it necessitated a trip into space to
finally return to her old self. Ryoko had never before spoken about what had happened
during her two month disappearance. Washu would have used the mind-link, but one of
the aftereffects of the Zero bonding had resulted in the mind-link being disabled.
�Well Ryoko, you be careful, and when you get back, don�t be too overbearing on
Tenchi.�
************************************************************************
Four days later:
�Tenchi, are you okay?� Ryoko asked worriedly. Since her return the day before,
Tenchi had avoided her.
Tenchi looked at her for a long moment, as if mentally sizing her up and making
some decision. �Yes, I think I am, Ryoko.�
�Do you need someone to talk to? I know you�re upset about Ayeka leaving.�
Tenchi was surprised by this statement. He had figured that Ryoko would be all over
him, while at the same time disparaging Ayeka. Instead, she had left and given him room
to think. Think about his future, and who he really cared about.
�I�d like that Ryoko, but I�m not thinking about Ayeka. At least, not anymore.�
Ryoko looked confused.
�Ya know, it�s funny Ryoko. When I first met you, I really didn�t think much of
your personality.�
Ryoko became embarrassed. �Yeah, I guess chasing you around and blowing up
your school would do that.�
�Please listen to what I have to say. That was then. But now, now I know
Ryoko.�
Ryoko again looked confused. Tenchi gently lifted her chin and looked straight
into her eyes, straight into her heart.
�I love you Ryoko, you�re one of the strongest women I�ve ever met. I really
admire that about you. You never gave up on me either, even when I was �betrothed� by
Grandpa. You were always there for me, even as a little kid when I would play by your
cave..�
Ryoko was stunned, she had no idea he knew about how she had watched over
him.
Tenchi smiled. �I�ve always known about that Ryoko. I could always feel your
presence beside me when I was at the cave. Always protecting me, always loving me.�
�Tenchi.....I....I�
�Ryoko....I love you.�
�Tenchi!� Ryoko cried, tears flowing freely from her eyes. Tenchi took her by
the shoulders and pulled her to him. Then, all their world consisted of was the kiss.
************************************************************************
Two weeks later:
�......I now pronounce you man and wife.�
The wedding was held under Funaho, with Yosho serving as minister, Nobuyuki
as best man, and Mishoshi doing double duty as bridesmaid and ring bearer. To most in
Japan, getting married less than two weeks after you had declared your love for each
other might have seemed insane, but to Tenchi, it made all the sense in the world when
the person you loved was a special someone like Ryoko.
The wedding reception was a small, private affair. Only a dozen or so guests had
been invited. Sadly, the joy of the day would not last.
�Tenchi...� Ayeka looked as if she had been crying for days.
�Miss Ayeka, what are you doing here? What�s wrong?� Tenchi was shocked,
Ryoko even more so. They had been in the middle of cutting the wedding cake when
Ayeka had burst in.
�Tenchi....my father......Emperor Azuza......is dead!�
�What!??!!� For the first time in his life, Yosho lost his composure.
Ayeka looked at him sorrowfully. �Father has been assassinated. We don�t know
how, but he collapsed at the dinner table and......and....� Ayeka burst into tears again.
Tenchi rushed to comfort her.
�Is there anything I.....we.....can do for you?� Tenchi asked.
�It is not I you should be worried about, Lord Tenchi.� Ayeka looked rueful. �Do
not forget so quickly that with father dead, you are the new Emperor of Jurai.�
Tenchi suddenly became lightheaded, as the weight of the world came crashing
down on his shoulders. �I....I�m the new emperor?�
�Whether you want it or not. You have no choice now, you are the last male
descendant of the House of Jurai.� Ayeka then looked at Ryoko, a look of revulsion
crossing her face.
�And as for you, Ryoko.....�
�You mean......�
�Yes, Ryoko. That means that you are....�
************************************************************************
�The new Empress of Jurai� Ryoko shouted triumphantly. It was some 12 hours
later, and Ryoko sat in the communications room of Ryo-ohki, staring at the
holo-viewer�s image of a man clad a black cloak, his face hidden.
�Excellent work, my young apprentice. All has gone as I have foreseen it.�
�Thank you, Lord Sidious.� Ryoko said to the Dark Lord of the Sith whose
holo-image was in front of her.
�You have done well, child. Are you sure the new Emperor of Jurai will do as
you ask?� Darth Sidious asked.
�Tenchi�s so shaken up right now, he�ll do anything I ask. Once we arrive on
Jurai tomorrow and are officially installed as the new Emperor and Empress, we shall
travel to Coruscant and officially give our support to you in your bid to become Supreme
Chancellor, Senator Palpatine.�
Darth Sidious smiled. �Excellent. With the support of the House of Jurai, that
fool Senator Organa will have no choice but to concede defeat. Finally, after 3 long
months, I shall take my rightful place as Supreme Chancellor. You have done quite well,
Ryoko. That blowfish poison was quite useful in dispatching Emperor Azuza. To think,
for all their sophisticated technology, the Jurians have never been able to detect
something as simple as Earth blowfish poison.�
Ryoko smiled wickedly. �I did what you asked. And you lived up to your part of
the bargain, arranging for Ayeka to be called in as the new ambassador. Now Tenchi is
mine, and mine alone.�
�And you will live up to your end, won�t you?� asked Sidious.
Ryoko nodded. �Of course. I said I�d do anything to win Tenchi, and if that
means becoming you apprentice, than so be it. You won�t need anyone else after me,
though. I�ll make Maul look like an amateur.�
�Don�t get too cocky, Ryoko� Sidious replied, eyeing a holo-image of young
Anakin Skywalker. �Remember, you too can be replaced..�
Author�s Note: Apologies to any OOC that occurred. I�d make the excuse that this is my
first Tenchi fic, but that would bely the fact that I preferred to use creative license with
the characters and the dialogue. Aide from the OOC, the biggest glaring inaccuracies
with this story were the fact that I ignored the �galaxy far, far way� part of Star Wars and
inserted the Galactic Republic into the Tenchiverse. BTW, this story takes place about 3
months after The Phantom Menace. C&C can be sent to skywarp@cephiro.com Thanks.
Darth Sidious, Darth Maul, Anakin Skywalker and Star Wars trademark and copyright
1999 Lucasfilm, LTD.
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