I'm really kinda worried about posting this one. I started this a quite a while back. I had originally set it in the TV series b/c I hadn't seen the OAVs yet, but once I did see them, I realized that the OAV continuancy fit better. I remember that Gensao's TM! FF page had a challenge a while back (I'm not sure it's even still going) for someone to come up with a story where Tenchi and Ayeka end up together in a monagamous relationship (No other wives. Just Ayeka.) I kinda hope to accomplish that with this story. Ja ne! Sakuya-sama ^_^ no Jurai P.S. C&C are always welcome and if anyone could possibly think of a better title I'd really appreciate it b/c I'm still not sure about this one. Happily Ever After A Tenchi Muyo! Fanfic written by Heather McNully AKA Sakuya Misaki AKA Ran-chan Part 1 Ayeka sits up in bed and rubs the sleep from her eyes. The sun has risen, marking the beginning of another day at the Masaki shrine. She yawns and stretches as she rises from bed and folds up her futon, placing it on a shelf in the closet along with Sasami’s. Ayeka goes to the window and throws open the curtains. She finds herself smiling as she lingers at the window, feeling the warmth of the bright morning sunshine on her face. Quietly she walks downstairs and makes her way into the kitchen. "Good morning, Sasami," Ayeka says, seeing her little sister hard at work preparing the morning meal. "Oh! Good morning Ayeka!" Sasami says looking up from her cooking, "I didn’t expect you up so soon. I’ll have breakfast ready in a little while." "It’s such a beautiful day today. I think I shall go out for a walk...." "Okay. I’ll call you when breakfast is ready." Ayeka strolls through the endless fields surrounding the Masaki shrine, daydreaming and just simply enjoying herself, "How peaceful, how serene...," she thinks, "It’s almost like something out of a fairy tale...," she heaves a deep sigh, "There’s only one thing that could make this absolutely perfect......" "Hey!" a distant voice calls out to her, interrupting her thoughts, "Ayeka!!" "Lord Tenchi!" Ayeka smiles to see the owner of the voice. Tenchi is out in the fields, tending to his vegetable garden. He waves at Ayeka, causing her to become even more happy than she already was. "Good morning, Lord Tenchi!" she calls out as she approaches. "Good morning, Miss Ayeka!" Tenchi greets her, "You sure are up early this morning." "Well... yes....," Ayeka blushes, "I just thought it might be nice to get out and go for a walk." "Yeah. I guess this place is it’s most beautiful in the morning... I’m about finished here... Do you mind if I join you?" "Why, not at all, Lord Tenchi!" Ayeka smiles. "Tenchi! Ayeka! Breakfast is ready!" Sasami calls from the house. "Well, I guess it’s just as well. I’ve got to take some of these vegetables in to the house anyway," Tenchi says. He takes hold of one handle and goes for the other, but Ayeka grabs it before he can get to it. They smile at each other as they carry the basket together. The basket suddenly begins to shake and a loud munching noise can be heard from inside. Tenchi fishes through it and pulls out Ryo-ohki. "And just what do you think you’re doing?" he asks the thieving little cabbit. "Miya, miyaaaaaa, miyaa!" Ryo-ohki says with an innocent look on her face. "Here," Tenchi sets the cabbit down and hands her a carrot. "Miya!" Ryo-ohki thanks Tenchi. Reverting to her more human form, she takes hold of the carrot and happily scampers away. Tenchi looks at Ayeka and the two begin to laugh. "He certainly is wonderful....," Ayeka thinks as she gazes dreamily at Tenchi, "If only... this could last forever....." "Princess Ayeka....." Ayeka awakes from her daydream state to see her two guardians in front of her. "Azaka, Kamidake, what is it?" "We have an urgent message from Jurai," Kamidake replies. "Emperor Azusa wanted to speak with you.... privately," Azaka says. "My father...," Ayeka says thoughtfully. She turns to Tenchi, "Lord Tenchi... if you would excuse me....." "It’s okay, Ayeka.... I’ll see you at breakfast...," Tenchi takes the basket and continues towards the house. Ayeka watches as Tenchi slowly disappears from view. "Well.....," Ayeka says suddenly, "Don’t just stand there... Put me through to him right away!" "Yes ma’am," they reply in unison. A beam of light emits from both Azaka and Kamidake, combining to create a holographic image in front of the princess. "Hello, Ayeka," the man in the image says. "Hello, father," Ayeka replies. "Ayeka.... I’m sure you know why I am calling you now..." "Yes. I have been expecting it...." "Is that Ayeka on?" a second voice off screen says, "Let me talk to her! Let me talk!" Suddenly, the emperor is being shoved aside, "Hi sweetie!!!" It is Ayeka’s mother, Misaki. "He-hello.... mommy.....," Ayeka says. "How have you been? That Tenchi boy has been a gentleman, hasn’t he? What about Sasami? Do you sing her to sleep for me?" Misaiki says, "Are you taking care of yourselves? Making sure to brush your teeth every night before bed?" "Yes,... mommy.... Everything’s fine...." "I can’t wait to see you again! I’ve missed my babies so much!" she exclaims. "Can I please talk to my daughter now?!" Emperor Azusa asks impatiently. "Of course, dear. Bye, baby!" "Goodbye.... mommy..." "Ahem...," Azusa clears his throat and continues, "Now, the ship to bring you home should arrive there in approximately twenty-four earth hours. I will expect you and your sister to be ready to board at that time. Do you understand?" "Yes, sir...," Ayeka replies. "Good. I shall look forward to seeing you soon. Jurai-out." With this, the screen disappears. ".... tomorrow...," Ayeka says thoughtfully. "What is the matter, Lady Ayeka?" Azaka asks. "Yes, what troubles you, Princess?" Kamidake asks, "This is a joyous occasion. Your parents simply want to share it with you. Aren’t you happy?" "...Yes....I suppose.....I am.....," Ayeka says after several moments of silence, "I guess I should begin packing....." She walks solemnly back to the house. *** Meanwhile, Tenchi has just entered the house via the back door with his basket-full of fresh vegetables. "Oh! Hi, Tenchi!" Sasami greets Tenchi as he enters the house, "Where’s Ayeka? I thought I saw her outside with you." "I left her talking with Azaka and Kamidake," Tenchi says placing the basket on the counter in the kitchen, "They said something about an urgent message from your father....." "Huh?" Sasami says puzzled. Just then Ayeka walks in. An emotionless expression on her face. "What is it, Ayeka?" Sasami asks, worried by the look on her sister’s face, "Tenchi told me that we got a message from father." "Is everything okay back on Jurai?" Tenchi asks. "Yes, Lord Tenchi. Everything is perfectly fine, but...," Ayeka pauses, "my father wants Sasami and I to return home immediately......." "Go home?!" Sasami says, almost dropping the food in her hands, "But I thought that he said we could stay here!" "We can’t stay here forever, Sasami.... As the first and second princesses of Jurai we have a duty to our people.... To stay here would be betraying them....." "Miss Ayeka....," Tenchi says, "When do you have to leave?" "The ship... the ship will be here.... tomorrow...." "Tomorrow?! But why so soon, Ayeka?" Sasami asks, still not understanding. "Stop that, Sasami!" Ayeka scolds, "I don’t want to hear anymore of that sort of talk. We will be leaving tomorrow whether you want to or not....." "But... but I like it here.... I don’t want to leave yet... I don’t want to leave my friends....," Sasami says beginning to cry, "I’ll never get to see Tenchi and Ryo-ohki and Ryoko and Grandfather and everyone else....." "It’s okay, Sasami," Tenchi says trying to comfort the little girl, "We can always come out there to visit... and I’ll write as often as I can......" Sasami begins to cry even more, "I don’t want to leave yet! I’m not ready to go home!" Sasami latches onto Tenchi’s waist, burying her head in his chest. "After we finish our chores we will need to begin packing. Is that clear, Sasami?" Ayeka says sternly. "Yes..... Ayeka.....," Sasami replies meekly. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++