Prologue
Disclaimer: The characters of Tenchi Muyo are the property of their
respective owners.
TENCHI MUYO:
THE PEOPLE'S PRINCE
Prologue:
It was four in the morning. The sun had yet to come up, and Tenchi
Masaki had yet to fall asleep. Instead, he stared at the ceiling, lying on his bed, reflecting on his life. One thought kept returning to him. He felt old.
'When did I start to feel this way?'
'I haven't always been this way.'
'Or have I?'
He came to a sitting position on his bed and despite the darkness, he surveyed his room. It wasn't much to look at, rather spartan for a man of his years. No personality to it what so ever. His eyes moved from one wall to another. It could have easily been his father's or grandfather's room. No, that wasn't exactly right. His father's room was full of photographs and sketches of bygone days, books and magazines more fitting an adolescent.
'When did we switch places, father? ...Father.'
The word stuck in his head. He was a father now. He rose and went over to the cradle in the corner of the room, and peered down at the infant inside. A smile penetrated his melancholy as he thought of his daughter. A child he had no say in the conception of. One could even say, he had been raped, but Tenchi didn't think of it that way, though at times he cursed the fact that even more of his freedom had been lost.
The girls had been quite insistent that they could better care for Mayuka, and that she should be placed in one of their rooms. Exactly whose room, quickly became an item of contention. Strangely enough, it was Washu and Sasami, who had been the most ...argumentative. He decided against them though, Mayuka was his daughter and his responsibility.
Responsibility.
Responsible.
A responsible adult.
'When did that happen?' he thought returning to his bed and looking out the window at the newly rising sun. 'When did the child leave?' For a second time, he left his bed and paced his room. He stopped in front of a full length mirror, looking at the stranger in front of him. 'Where is the guy, who went out with his friends when I lived in Tokyo? Where is the guy, who would miss class because he fell asleep on the school roof? Where is the guy, who defied his grandfather, broke into the cave, and set Ryoko free? Where's the guy who punched someone out for insinuating that he was so hard up that he'd stoop to sleeping with old ladies... Where are my pants?'
The sun was up. His alarm clocked told him it was half passed the hour. It was time for all responsible adults to hit the carrot mines. He had actually made it outside his door, before slender yet strong arms rapped themselves around him from behind.
A universe away, someone else was beginning to feel their years. "My Queen, what do you mean?! Lord Seiryo will not marry the Princess
Aeka?!"
Normally, news of the happenings of the Royal Family would be given to the people by means of an official press release, but the princesses had been gone for so long. The people were hungry for news, whether it truth or rumor. The proposed marriage of Princess Aeka and the return of Princess Sasami, had been at the forefront of every news service and tabloid in the empire, despite the Royal Court never confirming the stories. When the Court returned to Jurai without them, the rumor mill had gone into overdrive. Queen Funaho decided it best to address the people's concerns.
"It has been decided, that a union is not in the interest of the Royal house at this time," Funaho answered calmly. She stood before a packed house of reporters.
It was the first time a press conference was held in the Royal Palace and by the look of the Emperor, who watched on a monitor from an adjoining room with Queen Misaki, the last time.
"So... the marriage is only delayed?"
"Whose decision was it to call the marriage off?"
"Is it true, that both Princess Aeka and Prince Yosho were killed by the space pirate Ryoko some 700 years ago, and the Royal House is just reluctant to tell the people?"
"Please one at a time. All your question will be answered," said Funaho without letting her aggravation show.
"Is it true, that Lord Seiryo took one look at how.... um hmm heavy, Princess Aeka has become and refused the marriage?" The reporter asking the question even had a picture. It showed a rotund Princess Aeka, sitting in a lounge chair, stuffing what looked like bonbons into her mouth.
The sounds of many guards restraining someone with great difficulty could be heard in the adjoining room. Funaho prayed they could hold her sister.
"Is it true, Princess Aeka ran off with Prince Yosho, and they refuse to return due to the racial tensions their love caused?"
Emperor Azusa did not like the tone of some of the reporters, or some of the things they were insinuating about the Royal House, but Funaho had promised them a completely open news conference.
"One at a time.... PLEASE. The marriage has been indefinitely postponed. It was the Princess's decision and yes she is very much alive, and as lovely as ever. As to the whereabouts of Prince Yosho, we still do not know what's become of him after his battle with Ryoko."
Funaho again answered each and every question with unflappable ease. Slowly the news conference began to wind down.
"Where are the Princesses now?"
"When will they return to Jurai?"
"Both Princesses Aeka and Sasami are vacationing at one of the Royal
Resort worlds. The exact location is secret, in respect of their privacy and for their security. We expect them to return to Jurai within the year."
On monitors through out the room, pictures of the long lost princesses appeared. Gasps could be heard from the reporters as they looked upon the first pictures taken of the royal princesses in seven hundred years. The hall became quiet as the monitors cycled through various pictures of the princesses, ending with a picture of the entire
Royal Family sans Yosho posing in front of a beautiful crystal clear lake, surrounded by a lush forest.
"If that is all the questions..." As the audience looked at the slideshow of pictures with a quiet awe, Funaho took the opportunity to leave the podium. She was half way to the exit when someone stood.
"Excuse me, your Highness; I have a few more questions."
Funaho turned to face the voice, who had spoken out. It belonged to a young woman with long brown hair, which flowed unhindered down to the small of her back. She had a heart shaped face and extremely intelligent cobalt blue eyes. From her badge, Funaho surmised that the young woman worked for one of the lesser known news agencies, some would even call it a 'rag'. Up until now the young woman had sat quietly, taking in all that she heard, watching every expression on the queen's face. "Your question?"
"Yes, my Queen. Is it true, both princesses were involved in the incident with Kagato and the destruction of the Souja?"
The hall, which had been quiet after the showing of the pictures, came to life again as one reporter mumbled to another. Funaho didn't even bat an eye lash.
"The Souja was destroyed by a joint Galaxy police - Jurian task force. The make up of said task force must be kept classified, as to protect its members and their families from terrorist acts perpetuated by any allies Kagato may have had."
"Was the Tsunami involved in this joint task force?"
The hall became quiet again at the mention of that name. Now all of Jurai was listening.
"Yes, it was."
"Did Lord Yosho have an involvement?"
"Lord Yosho had no involvement with the destruction of the Souja. As I mentioned before, we are unsure of Prince Yosho's present predicament." Without any outward sign, Queen Funaho cursed to herself. For the most part, she had gotten through the press conference with only telling one falsehood. It wasn't that she had an aversion to lying, as the Chief Minister of Information, she was adept at the art of spin, but lies also had a way of coming back at you. Now someone had caused her to repeat that falsehood. She was very much aware of Yosho's situation.
"Who is Washu?"
'WHO ARE YOU?? WHERE DID YOU GET THIS INFORMATION AND WHY AREN'T YOU WORKING FOR ME?' Funaho screamed behind her mask of outward amusement. Somebody had screwed up. Funaho liked to be kept abreast of the more formidable journalists. This person had come out of left field. "Washu was a student at the Royal Science Academy, who was kidnapped by Kagato and rescued aboard Souja."
"Thank you my Queen, one more question."
The Queen showed a genuine smile. She hadn't been challenged like this
in a very long time. She took a moment to appraise her opponent and read the name off the press id she wore. "What is your question, Ms...? Graham?"
"Who is Tenchi Masaki?"
Inwardly, Funaho was applauding her opponent for coming this far; outwardly, she was as nonplussed as ever. "Tenchi Masaki?"
Sue Graham was just barely containing a smirk. Sure, she worked for the
Juraian Enquirer, no one else would hire her, for reasons well known to her. Sure, her expose' on there being intelligent life on colonized planet 0315 had been laughed at. Everyone knew that "The Lost Colony" had died out due to a supposed plague eons ago, and was now a special preserve, totally cutoff from access. Of course her attempts to find out exactly which alien world Queen Funaho was from were the butt of jokes. Earth??? Never heard of it. The list of torments went on and on. Now, however, things would be different. NOW, everyone would respect the name Sue Graham, and take her work seriously. The smirk finally cracked her face.
"Yes, Tenchi Masaki. Crown Prince, Tenchi Masaki." Funaho's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Many in the audience were getting ready to make mad dashes out of the room to contact their editors.
THIS WAS BIG.
Sue pressed on, "THE SECRET LOVE CHILD OF PRINCE YOSHO AND THE DEMON RYOKO!!!!" She shouted to her captured audience, their mouths agape.
All eyes turned to the Queen, that is, of those who were still conscious. Many had passed out due to the shock.
This was BEYOND BIG.
Funaho blinked.
'Yes, YES, finally vindicated!' She thought with eyes closed, hand raised triumphantly in the air.
The Queen put forth her best effort. Years of training and disciplined showed in her poise, but not for long. She had been beaten. This child had beaten her. It started as just a twitch at the corner of her mouth. She fought it as best she could. It then, commandeered both lips. From there, it staged raids to her reddening cheeks. Funaho tried holding her breath but it was all for naught. Slowly, it caused her whole body to visibly tremble, as bursts of air shot from her nose. Then, total defeat as the First Queen of the Juraian Empire laughed her head off.
Soon, the entire conference room was on the floor. If Queen Funaho thought it was funny, then it had to be hoot.
Slowly Funaho regained her composure and passed through the door, to the room where her husband and sister were waiting.
"Bbbahhahahahahahhaahha!!!"
'Why do they always laugh at me?!!' She knew her information was correct. She had the report to prove it. And she WOULD prove it.
Damien
[email protected]
"I am responsible only to God and history"
Fransico Francs
Disclaimer: The characters of Tenchi Muyo are the property of their
respective owners.
TENCHI MUYO:
THE PEOPLE'S PRINCE
Prologue:
It was four in the morning. The sun had yet to come up, and Tenchi
Masaki had yet to fall asleep. Instead, he stared at the ceiling, lying on his bed, reflecting on his life. One thought kept returning to him. He felt old.
'When did I start to feel this way?'
'I haven't always been this way.'
'Or have I?'
He came to a sitting position on his bed and despite the darkness, he surveyed his room. It wasn't much to look at, rather spartan for a man of his years. No personality to it what so ever. His eyes moved from one wall to another. It could have easily been his father's or grandfather's room. No, that wasn't exactly right. His father's room was full of photographs and sketches of bygone days, books and magazines more fitting an adolescent.
'When did we switch places, father? ...Father.'
The word stuck in his head. He was a father now. He rose and went over to the cradle in the corner of the room, and peered down at the infant inside. A smile penetrated his melancholy as he thought of his daughter. A child he had no say in the conception of. One could even say, he had been raped, but Tenchi didn't think of it that way, though at times he cursed the fact that even more of his freedom had been lost.
The girls had been quite insistent that they could better care for Mayuka, and that she should be placed in one of their rooms. Exactly whose room, quickly became an item of contention. Strangely enough, it was Washu and Sasami, who had been the most ...argumentative. He decided against them though, Mayuka was his daughter and his responsibility.
Responsibility.
Responsible.
A responsible adult.
'When did that happen?' he thought returning to his bed and looking out the window at the newly rising sun. 'When did the child leave?' For a second time, he left his bed and paced his room. He stopped in front of a full length mirror, looking at the stranger in front of him. 'Where is the guy, who went out with his friends when I lived in Tokyo? Where is the guy, who would miss class because he fell asleep on the school roof? Where is the guy, who defied his grandfather, broke into the cave, and set Ryoko free? Where's the guy who punched someone out for insinuating that he was so hard up that he'd stoop to sleeping with old ladies... Where are my pants?'
The sun was up. His alarm clocked told him it was half passed the hour. It was time for all responsible adults to hit the carrot mines. He had actually made it outside his door, before slender yet strong arms rapped themselves around him from behind.
A universe away, someone else was beginning to feel their years. "My Queen, what do you mean?! Lord Seiryo will not marry the Princess
Aeka?!"
Normally, news of the happenings of the Royal Family would be given to the people by means of an official press release, but the princesses had been gone for so long. The people were hungry for news, whether it truth or rumor. The proposed marriage of Princess Aeka and the return of Princess Sasami, had been at the forefront of every news service and tabloid in the empire, despite the Royal Court never confirming the stories. When the Court returned to Jurai without them, the rumor mill had gone into overdrive. Queen Funaho decided it best to address the people's concerns.
"It has been decided, that a union is not in the interest of the Royal house at this time," Funaho answered calmly. She stood before a packed house of reporters.
It was the first time a press conference was held in the Royal Palace and by the look of the Emperor, who watched on a monitor from an adjoining room with Queen Misaki, the last time.
"So... the marriage is only delayed?"
"Whose decision was it to call the marriage off?"
"Is it true, that both Princess Aeka and Prince Yosho were killed by the space pirate Ryoko some 700 years ago, and the Royal House is just reluctant to tell the people?"
"Please one at a time. All your question will be answered," said Funaho without letting her aggravation show.
"Is it true, that Lord Seiryo took one look at how.... um hmm heavy, Princess Aeka has become and refused the marriage?" The reporter asking the question even had a picture. It showed a rotund Princess Aeka, sitting in a lounge chair, stuffing what looked like bonbons into her mouth.
The sounds of many guards restraining someone with great difficulty could be heard in the adjoining room. Funaho prayed they could hold her sister.
"Is it true, Princess Aeka ran off with Prince Yosho, and they refuse to return due to the racial tensions their love caused?"
Emperor Azusa did not like the tone of some of the reporters, or some of the things they were insinuating about the Royal House, but Funaho had promised them a completely open news conference.
"One at a time.... PLEASE. The marriage has been indefinitely postponed. It was the Princess's decision and yes she is very much alive, and as lovely as ever. As to the whereabouts of Prince Yosho, we still do not know what's become of him after his battle with Ryoko."
Funaho again answered each and every question with unflappable ease. Slowly the news conference began to wind down.
"Where are the Princesses now?"
"When will they return to Jurai?"
"Both Princesses Aeka and Sasami are vacationing at one of the Royal
Resort worlds. The exact location is secret, in respect of their privacy and for their security. We expect them to return to Jurai within the year."
On monitors through out the room, pictures of the long lost princesses appeared. Gasps could be heard from the reporters as they looked upon the first pictures taken of the royal princesses in seven hundred years. The hall became quiet as the monitors cycled through various pictures of the princesses, ending with a picture of the entire
Royal Family sans Yosho posing in front of a beautiful crystal clear lake, surrounded by a lush forest.
"If that is all the questions..." As the audience looked at the slideshow of pictures with a quiet awe, Funaho took the opportunity to leave the podium. She was half way to the exit when someone stood.
"Excuse me, your Highness; I have a few more questions."
Funaho turned to face the voice, who had spoken out. It belonged to a young woman with long brown hair, which flowed unhindered down to the small of her back. She had a heart shaped face and extremely intelligent cobalt blue eyes. From her badge, Funaho surmised that the young woman worked for one of the lesser known news agencies, some would even call it a 'rag'. Up until now the young woman had sat quietly, taking in all that she heard, watching every expression on the queen's face. "Your question?"
"Yes, my Queen. Is it true, both princesses were involved in the incident with Kagato and the destruction of the Souja?"
The hall, which had been quiet after the showing of the pictures, came to life again as one reporter mumbled to another. Funaho didn't even bat an eye lash.
"The Souja was destroyed by a joint Galaxy police - Jurian task force. The make up of said task force must be kept classified, as to protect its members and their families from terrorist acts perpetuated by any allies Kagato may have had."
"Was the Tsunami involved in this joint task force?"
The hall became quiet again at the mention of that name. Now all of Jurai was listening.
"Yes, it was."
"Did Lord Yosho have an involvement?"
"Lord Yosho had no involvement with the destruction of the Souja. As I mentioned before, we are unsure of Prince Yosho's present predicament." Without any outward sign, Queen Funaho cursed to herself. For the most part, she had gotten through the press conference with only telling one falsehood. It wasn't that she had an aversion to lying, as the Chief Minister of Information, she was adept at the art of spin, but lies also had a way of coming back at you. Now someone had caused her to repeat that falsehood. She was very much aware of Yosho's situation.
"Who is Washu?"
'WHO ARE YOU?? WHERE DID YOU GET THIS INFORMATION AND WHY AREN'T YOU WORKING FOR ME?' Funaho screamed behind her mask of outward amusement. Somebody had screwed up. Funaho liked to be kept abreast of the more formidable journalists. This person had come out of left field. "Washu was a student at the Royal Science Academy, who was kidnapped by Kagato and rescued aboard Souja."
"Thank you my Queen, one more question."
The Queen showed a genuine smile. She hadn't been challenged like this
in a very long time. She took a moment to appraise her opponent and read the name off the press id she wore. "What is your question, Ms...? Graham?"
"Who is Tenchi Masaki?"
Inwardly, Funaho was applauding her opponent for coming this far; outwardly, she was as nonplussed as ever. "Tenchi Masaki?"
Sue Graham was just barely containing a smirk. Sure, she worked for the
Juraian Enquirer, no one else would hire her, for reasons well known to her. Sure, her expose' on there being intelligent life on colonized planet 0315 had been laughed at. Everyone knew that "The Lost Colony" had died out due to a supposed plague eons ago, and was now a special preserve, totally cutoff from access. Of course her attempts to find out exactly which alien world Queen Funaho was from were the butt of jokes. Earth??? Never heard of it. The list of torments went on and on. Now, however, things would be different. NOW, everyone would respect the name Sue Graham, and take her work seriously. The smirk finally cracked her face.
"Yes, Tenchi Masaki. Crown Prince, Tenchi Masaki." Funaho's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Many in the audience were getting ready to make mad dashes out of the room to contact their editors.
THIS WAS BIG.
Sue pressed on, "THE SECRET LOVE CHILD OF PRINCE YOSHO AND THE DEMON RYOKO!!!!" She shouted to her captured audience, their mouths agape.
All eyes turned to the Queen, that is, of those who were still conscious. Many had passed out due to the shock.
This was BEYOND BIG.
Funaho blinked.
'Yes, YES, finally vindicated!' She thought with eyes closed, hand raised triumphantly in the air.
The Queen put forth her best effort. Years of training and disciplined showed in her poise, but not for long. She had been beaten. This child had beaten her. It started as just a twitch at the corner of her mouth. She fought it as best she could. It then, commandeered both lips. From there, it staged raids to her reddening cheeks. Funaho tried holding her breath but it was all for naught. Slowly, it caused her whole body to visibly tremble, as bursts of air shot from her nose. Then, total defeat as the First Queen of the Juraian Empire laughed her head off.
Soon, the entire conference room was on the floor. If Queen Funaho thought it was funny, then it had to be hoot.
Slowly Funaho regained her composure and passed through the door, to the room where her husband and sister were waiting.
"Bbbahhahahahahahhaahha!!!"
'Why do they always laugh at me?!!' She knew her information was correct. She had the report to prove it. And she WOULD prove it.
Damien
[email protected]
"I am responsible only to God and history"
Fransico Francs