Season 2: Home Life and Shadow Plays Episode 4: No Need for a Movie The path to the Masaki house Tenchi thought back across the last two months and couldn't help but be depressed. He would have thought that having one of those girls suddenly decide to stop chasing him would be relieving. No, he had known that it would be a relief if they had settled the matter themselves. He just wished it hadn't been settled in this way, Ryoko angry with him for Ayeka's burn out. Rationally he told himself that the knights should have been able to notice if it was possible. They had centuries, hell, millennia, more experience than he did. He kept telling himself that there was no possible way for him to tell that Ayeka had been burning herself out. It didn't do him much good. His mind kept returning to the fact that his mother had done the same to herself for him. To make matters worse in that regard, they had gone back in time to save her from Caine, not force her to burn out fighting him. Now another Jurai woman he cared about had burned herself out. It wasn't as bad a case this time, or at least that was the way it seemed, but it didn't change the fact that it had happened. Now he had lost Ryoko, and that was the problem. He felt selfish for thinking it, perhaps some part of him had wanted to be the one doing the breaking up. At least that is what he told himself. He tried to convince himself that he only seemed to be interested in Ryoko now because she was suddenly forbidden fruit, and that was the only reason. It all still came down to the fact that he had lost Ryoko. She wouldn't talk to him, wouldn't even stay long in the same room with him. It wouldn't have been so difficult if Ryoko had reacted in the way he would have expected. A Ryoko dancing over the premature grave of a Jurai princess would have been easy to ignore. She would have been even easier to tell off. This train of thought didn't help his general feeling out much. Now he felt guilty about wishing that Ryoko cared less about Ayeka than she did. Wishing, basically, that Ryoko was actually as evil as people had portrayed her when everybody first arrived. He had been on several dates with Ayeka in the recent past, but they hadn't been the pleasant experiences he was hoping for. Tenchi had hoped that at some point that they would have become less matters of responsibility and more like real social outings. Unfortunately the transition hadn't yet occurred. Oh the movies and activities cheered them up for a brief time, but the image of Ryoko's scowling face always intruded into his thoughts. He didn't know for sure, but he thought Ayeka had noticed his distraction. She certainly seemed less enthusiastic than she had originally. That was something else praying on his mind. He had felt guilty and confused about stringing along both Ryoko and Ayeka. Now that he had only one choice he still felt guilty and confused. He paused in his walk and sighed resignedly. "Why can't I have a normal life?" he asked the air, before continuing walking along. Masaki house "It has really become quite boring around here," Ayeka declared to the surprise of Ryoko, Sasami and Washu. "Well, I can try to come up with a galactic threat," Washu answered snidely. "But it will take some time." "I wasn't thinking of anything so drastic," Ayeka told her. "Perhaps a communal outing to the local cinema." "If you want to go to a movie, I'm sure Tenchi will take you," Ryoko suggested. Ayeka had yet to understand why Ryoko didn't seem to be upset with her at all, just Tenchi. "Well, why don't we all go to a movie?" Sasami asked, excitedly. "It sounds like fun! Do you think Miho-Kiyo can come too?" "Perhaps, they do have busy schedules, Sasami," Ayeka reminded her. "But it wouldn't hurt to make a call." "Thanks, but I think I'll stay here," Ryoko said, lying back down on the couch. "Oh come on, Ryoko," Sasami half-whined. "If we're all going to go you should come too. Please?" Ryoko tried to ignore the pleading child, but only managed to do so for about a minute. "All right, I'll go," Ryoko finally said, resulting in a cheerful hop from Sasami. "Excellent," Ayeka said happily. "I'll call Miho-Kiyo." She walked into the hallway smiling cheerfully and perhaps a little deviously. "Hey, wait," Washu called. "Do I get any say in this?" Ayeka popped her head around back into the living room. "Oh Ryoko," she called, still smiling. "Tenchi should be on his way home now, could you go ask him to join us?" "Me?" Ryoko asked, looking at Ayeka as if she were insane. "Talk to him?" "You can get there quicker than any of us," Ayeka noted practically. "It is the most efficient solution." "Okay, Washu," Ryoko said irritably, before lifting up and teleporting away. "Hey!" the scientist tried again to get somebody's attention. "What's everybody picking on me for?" She followed Ayeka back into the hallway, where Ayeka was making her call. Miho-Kiyo place. "Hello?" Mihoshi said picking up the phone. "Mihoshi?" Ayeka's voice said on the other end of the line. "I was wondering perhaps if you, Kiyone and the rest would like to join us for a movie?" "Just a moment let me check?" Mihoshi turned to where Kiyone was doing their budgeting. "Kiyone, Ayeka wants to know if we can join them in going to a movie tonight." Kiyone frazzled expression turned to one of confusion as she looked up from the bills and checkbook. "Give me the phone," Kiyone said. Mihoshi cheerfully handed the receiver to her teal-haired partner. "Ayeka?" "Oh, Captain Makibi," the voice on the other end said. "Definitely Ayeka," Kiyone thought. "Are you and yours free from work tonight?" Ayeka asked politely. "Didn't we talk about this already?" Kiyone asked. "I'm just waiting for Rikyu before leaving." "Oh good, then you can come?" "Of course I can come," Kiyone said. "Have you thought of a movie yet?" "Oh, I was thinking about that new American film," Ayeka said. "It appears to be a somewhat decent historical fiction piece. I'm not certain what period of the galaxy's history it's from, but I never did care much for history." "Are you talking about The Phantom Menace?" Kiyone asked. "Oh yes, that's the one," Ayeka noted. "You're trying to make this look like a spontaneous decision, aren't you?" "Then we'll see you in an hour or so?" "What's going on here Ayeka?" "I have to go, I sent Ryoko after Tenchi, and they should be back soon." Kiyone blinked, pulled the receiver away from her head and looked at it like she didn't know what it was for. She slowly returned the item to her ear. "Uh, okay, we'll see you soon." The phone on the other end of the line clicked back down. Kiyone then hung-up the phone and began to try and make sense of that conversation. "It can't be what I think it is." Masaki Residence "Okay, Princess" Washu said, accusingly. "What's going on here?" "Isn't it obvious, Washu-Chan?" Ayeka asked. "We're all going out to a movie." "And the point of sending Ryoko to get Tenchi is?" "To inform Lord Tenchi of our plans and suggest that he accompany us," Ayeka answered as if that should be obvious. "And you're not doing this because Ryoko will stomp all over him?" "Yeah, Ayeka," Sasami added. "Ryoko has been really mean to Tenchi since you got back." Sasami sounded confused about that, but she thought that it perhaps had something to do with how much time her onesan had been spending with Tenchi. "I am quite certain that it will all be fine," Ayeka asserted. "One more thing," Washu put in. "What is it?" Ayeka's pleasant attitude vanished. "Were you talking about the Phantom Menace?" "Yes," Ayeka said. "Why do you ask?" "It's not exactly what you would call historical fiction." "Really? How odd." The stairs up to the Masaki house It was a scene he was used to, Ryoko just popping into existence next to him. For a moment his mood brightened, but it didn't last. Ryoko's new dismissive attitude was still in full force. She wasn't even floating, she was standing off to the side, arms crossed. She looked as if she were on a displeasing errand. "What do you want Ryoko?" he asked, irritably. "Ayeka wants us all to go to a movie tonight," she told him. "So why are you telling this to me?" Tenchi asked. "You haven't spoken more than two words together to me since.....since the battle." Ryoko narrowed her eyes. "Ayeka sent me," Ryoko told him. "So let's get this over with." The pirate teleported away with the last word. Tenchi shrugged and continued climbing up the stairs, he was in the house within two minutes. "So what movie are we seeing?" Tenchi asked, he avoided looking to Ryoko's position on the couch in the living room. Ayeka turned to him smiling, and seeming vaguely disappointed somehow. "We're going to see The Phantom Menace!!" Sasami shouted excitedly. Tenchi blinked, Ryoko sat up and looked into the hallway. "Yes," Washu called from somewhere. "We're just waiting for the Miho-Kiyo group to get here." "And this was Ayeka's choice?" Tenchi and Ryoko asked simultaneously. Ryoko glared at him and lay back down. Miho-Kiyo place "So any word on what movie we're seeing?" Rikyu asked as he appeared in the mirror standing behind Kiyone. The detective jumped, surprised by the teleport. "Gah! You and your mother!" she gasped, catching her breath. "Don't either of you ever use a door?" "Well, I haven't quite got the phasing thing down yet," he said, smiling. "So this works better, besides in moment there'll be Mihoshi, my mother, Ayeka, Tenchi and everybody else. Right now it's just us." He encircled his arms around her waste and leaned forward. Kiyone smiled and formed her own ring around his neck. "So it is," Kiyone agreed, then she decided to tease him a little. "And just how did you know I would be here or that I wouldn't be...indisposed?" "I have no idea," he answered, kissing her lightly on the lips. "And I don't care." "A very logical explanation," she responded with her own little kiss. Things were progressing from there when someone knocked on the door. "Kiiii-yooo-neeee?" Mihoshi whined. "Are you done yet?" "Well, so much for that," Rikyu laughed quietly. "Perhaps we should spare her this for a little while more," Kiyone suggested, Rikyu nodded smiling and teleported to the living room. "Coming right out Mihoshi." Kiyone opened the door and Mihoshi rushed in behind her. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you Kiyone," was all the blonde said before unceremoniously closing the door on an amused Kiyone. "Ah, Captain Makibi," Rakkan said as Kiyone appeared in the large open room. The room was sparsely furnished, with items scavenged from the Yagami's cargo bay. Fortunately, most of the furniture had been in her and Mihoshi's apartment for the battle so it had survived. It was a rather bizarre collection. There were the old Masaki couches, the simple wooden table from their beach planet snack shop. A few chairs from that had missed the Mihoshi explosion in the bar. Added to that stuff that Ayeka or Ryoko had bought on impulse, or Mihoshi had picked up from the ruins. It wasn't anywhere near a unified interior style. "Lord Rikyu has arrived," the Akuneko warrior finished. Kiyone glanced over at the red-haired Akuneko and smiled. Rikyu waved with an impish smile. "I see," Kiyone responded. "Mihoshi won't be much longer, either." "So what movie are we seeing?" Rikyu asked. "According to Ayeka," Kiyone suggested. "The Phantom Menace, but I also thought she said something about sending Ryoko to find Tenchi, so I might have heard wrong." "Oh did that work out?" Karya asked. Kiyone turned and looked at the woman as if she had just found the last piece of a puzzle. "You know something we don't," Kiyone stated. Karya began to sweat as all attention focused on her. "Uhh....?" Theater They reached the theater early, actually it was later than Ayeka had intended, but Rikyu and Tenchi had convinced them that it would be next to impossible to get enough seats if they came in close to start time. So the entire crew ended up sitting around the theater lobby for an hour, eliciting a large number of stares, especially the three Akuneko. Sasami and Mihoshi were busy playing video games, the blonde had collected small number of predominantly male watchers. Rakkan was watching the various strangers with an almost paranoid fervor. The Akuneko warrior was decidedly uncomfortable what with Kiyone and five nobles to keep an eye on. Rikyu and Kiyone were sitting together, mostly just relaxing, but at least partially praying that Mihoshi didn't do anything they'd have to clean up. Karya was sitting a little ways from Kiyone looking rather nervous. Ayeka was sitting with Tenchi across from Kiyone and Rikyu. Ryoko floating off to the side, trying not to look like she was enjoying herself. As for Washu, she had the unenviable position of being officially Sasami and Mihoshi's babysitter. When they announced that seating would begin soon the Akuneko easily secured the head of the line for their group. "Hey, that's not fair," somebody shouted. "Akane-San?" Ayeka asked as she looked the party just behind the Tenchi crew. "Ayeka? What are you doing here?" Ayeka looked back and saw Akane, Ukyou, and their boyfriends. "Hey, it's that girl from before!" Ranma declared. "Onesan, do you know these people?" "Guys, they're opening the theatre, can we talk later?" Ryoko noted. It didn't take much more than that, and soon they were all seated. As the lights lowered Karya turned towards Ryoko sitting next to her. "Excuse me, Lady Shinku," Ryoko crimped her neck at the mention of the title and turned to face Karya. "Would you mind switching seats with me?" "Sure, no problem," the pirate floated up and let the Jurai woman take her original seat. She then set herself down. At virtually the same time, Ayeka, originally next to Karya, turned to Tenchi. "Excuse me, Lord Tenchi," she started. "I'd like to sit next to my sister, could we switch seats, please?" "Of course, Ayeka," he stood up and let Ayeka over before sitting down himself. He and Ryoko sat down at virtually the same time. The space pirate glared at Tenchi as she noticed who she was sitting next to. Tenchi noticed as well and glanced guiltily away. "Karya, I chan*.." Ryoko started "Shhh, the movie's starting!!" someone shouted. Ryoko stopped talking and sat back in her chair. She reasoned that it was too late now, she'd just have to deal with it. Then the movie started and she willfully forgot the situation. The Tenchi crew couldn't help but shift a little as the movie progressed. They kept reaching scenes that reminded them of the whole Kagato mess, especially that last sneak into the palace using a battle as distraction. Ryoko glanced at Tenchi as she recalled them standing in the Yagami corridors. Ryoko trying to convince Tenchi not to go and get himself killed, while also hiding the fact that she was slowly bleeding to death. "...I'd love to go on a trip with you..." Ryoko's eyes softened for a moment before returning to the screen. Just missing that motion, Tenchi turned to glance at her with his own memories from just after his return to Earth. "If you wait awhile, the carnival always comes back, Tenchi," Ryoko's voice serene as they just stood in the woods, holding each other. Then he, also, turned back to watch the screen. When the movie ended the Masaki group quietly stood up and walked/teleported/ flew to the side and let the theater clear out before starting to leave themselves. As the other moviegoers filtered out the majority of the Tenchi group just stood quietly and reminisced. Ryoko especially seemed confused, glancing towards Ayeka or Tenchi several times. "Well, the path is clear," Washu noted. "Perhaps we should get going." "Yeah, catch you guys at home," Ryoko said, glancing at Tenchi and then at Ayeka before vanishing away. "If you don't mind," Tenchi suggested. "I'm going to head off by myself also, maybe get something to eat." "Oh its no problem at all, Lord Tenchi," Ayeka responded. "Well shall the rest of us go?" "See you later, Tenchi," Sasami waved. Most of the group walked on ahead leaving Tenchi meandering behind. Kiyone managed to catch Ayeka a little behind the rest though. "You are playing matchmaker, with Tenchi and Ryoko?" Kiyone asked, half in disbelief. "I don't have any idea of what you mean," Ayeka denied, then she smiled a small proper smile. "But it's working." Kiyone looked at her as if she had turned green and then walked on.