***********************W*A*R*N*I*N*G************************ NOTE: This fanfic contains spoilers that pertain to the second Tenchi Muyo! movie, Manatsu no Eve (Midsummer's Eve), or as it's called here in America, Daughter of Darkness. Thanks for reading! ***********PLEASE*C&C,*MST(!),*WHATEVER!*PLEASE!************ Tenchi Muyo! (C) 1998 AIC * Pioneer LDC, Inc. * Tenchi Muyo Committee ------------------------------------------------------------ Presenting- An original Tenchi Muyo! Manatsu no Eve Continuation by: Mark Eymer (saotome@micron.net) Tenchi Muyo! Manatsu no Yume: Chapter 1 ------------------------------------------------------------ The darkness clouding the room gave way to a faint, green glow emanating from a tube-like structure at the center of it. A large, glass cylinder lay between a pair of metallic restraints, built into the ceiling and floor. Some strange object floated on the inside of this cylinder, gaining a measure of buoancy from the liquid housed within. As Washu looked upon the cylinder, a small grin, illuminated by the eerie glow, spread across her face. Yes, it was almost finished. A month of research, analysis, and careful cultivation was coming together right before her eyes. Washu had originally brought Mayuka back as a baby, hoping she could circumvent the problem of maturing her to the point she had been at. However, everyone had missed the Mayuka they had known. Washu included. The baby Mayuka was cute and was well loved by all... but something was missing. She wasn't the Mayuka they had known. And so, Washu had taken it upon herself to artificially mature Mayuka, as well as restore her memories. Washu cast a simple smile at the being within the cylindrical tank. "It's almost time, Mayuka. Are you ready to come back?" A jewel embedded within the collar bone of the being pulsed in response... ------------------------- Sunlight filtered through the trees of the country around the Masaki residence. Under such a tree one, Tenchi Masaki by name, could be seen relaxing in the shade the tree provided. Sighing wistfully he opened his eyes and looked up at the sky before him. It's such a peaceful day, he thought to himself. The carrot field's been taken care of, already, and I've got the afternoon to myself. He smiled remembering Ryo-ohki's candid attempts to eat all of the carrots before he had gotten them safely inside. Reaching around behind himself, Tenchi put his hands behind his head and leaned back into the trunk of the tree, losing himself in the sounds of the soft, whispering breeze. Things had been quite peaceful lately. Almost too peaceful, actually. Truth be told, Tenchi found himself a little bored. While he certainly was not an adventurous type, he had found himself used to more goings on. Not much had really changed around the place. In fact, most things were completely unchanged. Ryoko and Ayeka still fought, Mihoshi and Kiyone had been rewarded with a vacation, which they incidentally chose to spend with the Masaki's and Co., and Washu was still tearing up her lab in an attempt to bring back... Mayuka. Mayuka. That was the thing missing from everyday life. Granted, Tenchi had only known the strange girl for a scant day, but over the course of that day he had grown especially attached to her. The cheefulness she showed was contagious, and Tenchi had found it hard not to smile when she was around. Mayuka reminded Tenchi a great deal of Sasami, actually. Both tended to smile simply because it felt good to do, both showed enormous compassion and empathy towards others, usually for no reason at all, and both struck him as nothing more than carefree girls, content simply to live and love life. He truly missed Mayuka. I wish I could do that, he thought. I wish I could simply sit back and enjoy. For the most part he could, but Tenchi often found himself smothered. The constant attention he recieved from Ryoko and Ayeka, as well as Mihoshi at times, was beginning to wear him down. He had to let them know, somehow. He couldn't keep stringing them along, could he? "I just don't know how to tell them," he began telling himself. "They don't seem to understand that their constant fighting makes it even harder to make a decision." He sighed, feeling as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. In essence, it was. In his mind, anyway. He would sooner bring harm upon himself than hurt someone else, all of the girls included. He knew that most of them harbored feelings for him, except Kiyone it seemed. And likewise, he cared a great deal about each and every one of them. The problem arose in how much he cared, however. His feelings were no more than affection towards them. He didn't love them, not like they wanted to be loved. "Not yet, anyway." Tenchi again reverted to speaking to himself. "If they would just give me a little space... some time to sort through it all..." His reverie was suddenly cut short. "Tenchi!" A far off call floated through the woods, reaching him as nothing more than a faint whisper. Ah, he thought, it's Sasami. Dinner must be ready. Rising from his peaceful sanctuary, Tenchi dusted himself off and headed back into the chaos that was the Masaki residence. Maybe a relaxing bath after dinner would calm his disquieted mind... ------------------------- The floors of the Masaki residence tended to creak profusely. This, in part, was because the house was getting on in years and could probably use a few fixes here and there. Most of the damage, however, had been incurred by one of the numerous fights between Ryoko and Ayeka. Although short and usually not too heated, these little "fights" tended to cause immense ammounts of property damage. Looking around the entryway of the house, Tenchi spotted a few areas that had needed repair after the girls had arrived. More areas than he would have liked... in fact, Tenchi was sure his father wasn't too happy about all the repairs the house seemed to need these days. "What do you mean 'Tenchi's mine,' Ryoko!?" The indignant sound of Ayeka refuting yet another of Ryoko's claims over Tenchi could be heard. "Just what it sounds like, Princess." Ryoko. Tenchi hung his head in resignation. Couldn't those two ever get along? "And what is it meant to sound like?!" "It's meant to sound, my dear, stupid Princess, as if Tenchi is mine. Which he is." Entering the room, himself, Tenchi took his seat at end of the table opposite the fuming adversaries. By the appearance of things, he wished he were somewhere else. Ayeka's face was currently red, a vein protruding from her forehead, as she glared at her rival. Ryoko, at least, looked a bit calmer. Her face was covered in an indignant smirk which seemed to make Ayeka only so much madder. "Hey, do you two think you could, I dunno... not fight?" Tenchi asked. "Yeah, you two!" Sasami had just entered, carrying a tray full of food. The smells of shrimp tempura, as well as beef yakisoba drifted through the room lazily. "I don't want you two to spill the dinner I've made!" This, as well as the aroma of the feast which Sasami had prepared, seemed to sate the two. They both simply sniffed and looked the other way. "Great," began Tenchi. "Let's eat." And so, dinner began. Mihoshi and Kiyone found their way to the table a little while later, both had been outside doing some laundry when Sasami called, and with a final cry of "Itadakimasu!" everyone dug in. Dinner was outstanding... that is, until Ryoko decided that Ayeka had had enough tempura... Hence, she took it upon herself to make sure the Princess "didn't turn into even more of a cow" by stealing what tempura Ayeka could manage to get to her plate. "Now you stop that, Ryoko! I think I'm a perfectly qualified judge of my own eating habits, thank you!" "That may be true, Princess, but... gluttony is SO unbecoming of Juraian royalty..." Tenchi grimaced. He knew all too well what was about to happen... he simply shut his eyes and hoped the damage wouldn't be too hard to repair. "WHAT?! I can't believe you just said that, Ryoko! Although I don't see why I should put such high standards in conjunction with such space trash as yourself!" "Alright, Princess!" Ryoko stood up, lightsword in hand. "You want a fight, you've got one!" A large number of floating logs suddenly appeared around Ryoko, each crackling with energy. "How dare you..." And with that, dinner came to a sudden, electrifying conclusion. ------------------------- Washu cackled with delight. It was finally done, she had succeeded! A pair of yellow eyes looked up into her red ones. "Do you... do you remember, Mayuka? Do you remember me?" "Miss... Washu, right?" Mayuka's smile was true and genuine. She really did remember. "Right." Calmly casting her eyes downward, Washu's form began to shake. "Hahahaha! All in a day's work for the greatest scientific mind in the universe!" No sooner had she started laughing, Mayuka cut her off, "Uh... When can I go see my Daddy?" Washu's hands were suddenly a blur as she entered a few characters into her holographics keyboard. Locating Tenchi, she couldn't help but giggle. She was sure Tenchi would want to see Mayuka as soon as he got out and was dressed, but the potential for entertainment was too much. Grinning from ear to ear, Washu pointed Mayuka in Tenchi's general direction. "Over in the bath, dear. Your Daddy's probably waiting for you, right now..." "I'm coming, Daddy!" Mayuka ran off, in search of her father. Washu couldn't help but to chuckle. Boy, was Tenchi in for the surprise of his life... ------------------------- Tenchi hissed as he lowered himself into the hot water of the outside furo. The pain soon passed, and he was then able to relax in the water. Leaning back against the side of the tub, he began to let his mind wander. Dinner had been a complete and utter disaster. There was no other way to put it. Ryoko and Ayeka had effectively fried everything, not to mention everyone, to a blackened crisp. Suffice it to say, the people attending dinner were not in the least bit happy. Those that were still conscious, that is... Sighing, Tenchi leaned his head back to rest it on the tub. He couldn't take much more of this... he wasn't sure if his heart could take many more fights or frights like that, either. Deep in thought, Tenchi missed the sound of a pair of dainty feet making their way to him. Those dainty feet were connected to a pair of beautifully lean, dainty legs which, in turn, were a small part of the naked girl creeping up behind Tenchi. Grinning with mirth, Mayuka suddenly lunged, wrapping her arms around Tenchi as she landed on him and pushed him into the water. Tenchi came up sputtering, and, after the initial shock wore off, found himself with something, no, make that a pair of somethings... very soft somethings, pressing into his back. Turning around, he came face to face with his assailant. "Mayuka?!" Tenchi's mouth dropped open. "Hi, Daddy! Didja' miss me?" Mayuka practically beamed at Tenchi. She then lunged forward a second time and wrapped her arms around him in a massive hug. "I sure missed you, Daddy!" Tenchi's mouth moved... but no words were forth coming. ------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter Notes: What can I say? I'm at it again, putting off my other fics so I can start a new one. Well, when the knock of opportunity comes, you might as well answer the door. Anyhow, this movie was one of the better ones that I've seen, lately. As for a Tenchi vid, it ranks right up there and is helping Tenchi and Co. to become one of my favorite series ever. As for this fic itself, I couldn't leave Manatsu no Eve as it was. I mean, Mayuka's subsequent "death" and all, I just couldn't. So, this fic is the result. My idea of what will happen in the Tenchi-verse when Washu finishes bringing Mayuka back. I just love her character! She's so full of life. I'm planning on splitting this series up more than I did with my NGE fic. It'll make for some chapters actually getting completed. I'm just not cut out for writing 50k, then releasing it. I'm better for short, sudden spurts of story. Anyhow, expect more soon. I can't get these ideas out of my head... Special thanks go to: -Pioneer Entertainment for releasing this wonderful movie over here in the States, as well as AIC and the Tenchi Muyo Committee for creating this universe. -Anyone who has preread or even read this for that matter. I need the C&C. And to: -White Wolf and Tybalt, Admins of the FFML, as well as all of the good people of the FFML who've put up with my stuff. Thank you for reading, Mark Eymer (saotome@micron.net)