Synopsis
Across the gap of space and time, the lives of a pampered young Prince
and a
spirited Japanese school girl could not be further set apart. In the
mountains
of the Earth and the forests of Jurai,
neither one
realises that their paths are about to cross in a decided and
unavoidable way.
Tsunami's prophesy has come to pass, and with the death of the Emperor,
Ayeka knows that her son Shigure's
place in the succession is far from secure. In her desperation, she
seeks to
follow the advice given to her by her sister at Shigure's
birth, bringing Ryoko and Tenchi's
unsuspecting daughter Nozomi into a world
of politics
and social ritual that she can't even begin to understand. Ayeka's
premise is simple - unite the two heirs of Jurai
and
her planet will remain at peace.
But Ayeka has reckoned without the
reactions of the
children themselves. As they fight against the bonds that are being
forced upon
them, it seems more and more likely that the plan is doomed to fail.
But as Shigure's eighteenth birthday draws
ever closer,
and his Jurai Power still refuses to
manifest, Ayeka is afraid.
Will she be able to bring together the two branches of Jurai's
royal tree? Or is her family doomed to split her world into bloody
civil war?
JURAI'S
HOPE: Part One
A Tenchi Muyo! Fanfiction
by
VRAIEESPRIT
Prologue
The
The room was quiet.
In the furthest corner, against the thick glass of the window, a woman
stood.
Anxiety and hope mingled in her dark red eyes as her gaze fell on the
young
woman who stood before her, and then to the tiny, precious bundle that
wriggled
and stretched in her gentle grasp.
"Well?"
At length she could bear the silence no more, and her companion glanced
up from
her charge at the question, a smile touching her lips as she did so.
"He's so small and warm, Ayeka." She said
reflectively, and Ayeka could see
excitement
glittering in the girl's crimson eyes, making her suddenly seem more a
child
than the young lady she was becoming. Ayeka
frowned,
nodding her head.
"Sasami, that's not what you're supposed to
be
telling me." She scolded gently. "You know that I wanted you to see
him before they insisted on all the usual rituals and started poking
him with
sticks and sacred devices. I trust your judgement on this more than
anyone. Can
you tell? Does Shigure have the Jurai
Power?"
"He's your son." Sasami smiled, reaching
down to stroke the tiny infant's cheek. "Of course he does."
"You're sure?" Relief flickered in Ayeka's
expression, and Sasami nodded her head.
"Without a doubt." She agreed. "But I
told you that before he was born, Ayeka.
You worry
too much. Tsunami knew he had great power inside of him when you first
told me
I was going to be an aunt. Jurai has it's heir, so stop fussing, all right? He's a
baby...can't
we just celebrate a new family member and leave it at that? He's too
young to
be worrying about magic for a long time, anyway. And he'll have enough
hard
things to do as he gets older. For now, he just wants to be hugged and
played
with - and that's more important than any stupid magical ability."
"Sasami..."
"Well, you'd love him just the same if I said he was completely dead to
the Power, wouldn't you?" Sasami raised
questioning eyes to her sister's, and Ayeka was aware of the goddess in her gaze. She
nodded.
"Of course!"
"Then now we've settled the fact, let's drop it and just be happy he's here." Sasami
grinned, her face lighting up. "I've been dying to be an aunt for the
longest time, Ayeka. You know I have. And
he's so
cute and perfect and pink...you know, I hope
one day
I'll be able to get married and have a family. You're so lucky - you
and Takeru, to have him."
"Yes, I know." Ayeka's expression softened
and she crossed the room, holding out her arms for her son. Her sister
parted
with her precious burden reluctantly, folding her hands together as she
eyed
them both critically.
"I think he's going to look more like you than like Takeru."
She decided at length. "He certainly has your eyes, and I'm pretty sure
he
has your nose. Takeru's chin, maybe...but
I think
he's going to be a handsome prince when he does grow up, Ayeka-oneechan."
"What else do you expect?" Ayeka laughed.
"Of course he will."
She glanced down at him, meeting his big reddish eyes with her own
tender ones.
"But you've put my mind at rest." She admitted. "You know that
the physicians told me I probably wouldn't have another child in my
lifetime -
I used up way too much of my strength and energy with him and it would
be
dangerous. I hoped so much that you'd be right. Tiresome as it is, Sasami-chan, sometimes I have to think like a
Princess as
well as like a mother. And if he has the Jurai
Power
- even if he's too young to manifest it yet - then our family's line is
safe
and secure for another generation."
"I know." Sasami looked
uncharacteristically thoughtful. "But I'm glad I don't have to worry
about
those things, Ayeka."
"Do you suppose your word will be enough to convince the Council
without
their usual prodding ceremony?" Ayeka
asked. Sasami giggled.
"If you want me to, I'll dress up in my best robes and confirm it for
them
all in the middle of the Council Chamber." She offered. "They're
starting to take more notice of me now that it's
officially
known around the court that Tsunami and I are connected in some way.
Would that
help, if I came and assured all your twitchy councillors that they will
have
their baby prince to crown when Tsunami has blessed him fully?"
"It might well." Ayeka admitted.
"Thank you, Sasami-chan. I'm sure they'll
take
Tsunami's word for it, even if they wouldn't take mine."
"I hope so." Sasami looked pensive,
perching on the window seat as she leant up against the cool stone
wall. "Ayeka, the Cult of Tsunami is
springing up again all over Jurai. Faith
is stronger than it ever has been in the
Goddess's power to protect the planet from harm. From being the
princess who
could generally do as she pleased because she was always in the
shadows, I've
become known all across this world. When I'm grown up, Tsunami and I
won't be seperate, and it will be down to
me...well, to us...to
ensure Jurai is always safe. Do you think
I'll ever
have time for other things - family, love, having fun?"
Ayeka eyed her sister carefully, a
sympathetic look
in her dark red eyes.
"Of course." She said gently. "You're
not just Tsunami, my sister. You're still Sasami,
as
you were before you knew about any of this. And Tsunami promised you
that it
would be your life, not hers to govern and control. If you want love
and
family, you should have it just like anyone else. I won't try and stop
you, and
nor will I let anyone else. You deserve happiness just as much as any
of us.
More, perhaps, considering how much you already do for Jurai."
Sasami was silent for a moment, then she
shook her
head.
"Father may not approve." She said finally. Ayeka
looked confused.
"Why not?" she asked, surprised.
"Father loves you and he'd want you to be happy. He knows our family
are
honoured enough by Tsunami's choice. Why would he mind if you wanted to
juggle
that responsibility with marriage?"
Sasami sighed.
"I don't know." She said hesitantly. "I think he'd expect me to
marry a prince. Or not even believe that anyone is good enough to marry
his
goddess-daughter, because you know how he can be when it comes to
things like
that. And it worries me, Ayeka. I always
thought I'd
have that choice to make myself. In fact...in fact, I think I have made
it. But
I don't want to upset or alienate my family. And I don't...don't think
he'd
fully understand."
Comprehension flitted across Ayeka's
expression and
she gently laid the sleepy baby down in the cradle, coming to her
sister's side
and slipping a gentle arm around the teenager's shoulders. Sasami
was already very pretty, and she knew
better than her
companion how many potential suitors had already come to her father to
ask for
permission to court. All had been refused - Lord Haru
had ordained that his younger child was too young to entertain
courtship from
older barons, and was wary of the ambitions of those seeking to wed the
planetary goddess. There was some truth in Sasami's
concerns, she acknowledged to herself ruefully. Haru
had always wanted the best for both his daughters, but now he had come
to
accept Tsunami's life force within his younger child's heart, he had
upped the
stakes.
"You need to work out what feelings belong to you and what belong to
Tsunami." She said at length. "A choice she made a long time ago,
based on her own personal preferences or weaknesses...doesn't mean that
it's
your destiny now."
"No, Ayeka, the feelings are as much mine
as
they are hers. She is me, remember?" Sasami
shook her head. "She's not making me think or feel
anything that I don't want to think or feel. It's just there, inside of
me. In
a way, it always has been - since we met, since before I knew who I
really was
and what was going to happen. Over time, it's just grown. Maybe it's
always
been Tsunami's plan...but it's what I want, too. I guess because we
share a
heart, we share love for people, too. She's as fond of you as I am, you
know.
And I..."
She sighed.
"I'm as susceptible to her affection, too."
Ayeka was silent for a moment. Then she
smiled.
"Then you should follow your heart." She said softly. "You know
you have my blessing. And I would put your case to Father, if I ever
needed to
do so. But don't rush into it, Sasami-chan.
He is
right when he says you're too young to court in that way. Take your
time and
see."
"I intend to." Sasami nodded.
"Besides, I want to enjoy being an aunt at the moment. Shigure
is so cute."
She pursed her lips, looking pensive.
"It's interesting, how things work out." She added. "I had the
strangest sensation when Azaka came to me
and told me
you wanted me...when you first told me that Shigure
was going to be born and that I was going to be Aunt Sasami.
I knew so much about him and his magic, but it wasn't just that - it
wasn't
just him. And now I feel even more sure
that I'm
right. It's a strange sensation, but when I held him...I knew he wasn't
going
to be Jurai's only heir."
"Meaning what, exactly?" Ayeka frowned,
looking confused. "You already know that I can't..."
"No..." Sasami shook her head. "Not
you, Ayeka. I didn't mean that."
"Then you?" Ayeka questioned. "I
suppose that's not impossible. Even if Tsunami can't be Queen of Jurai...but why would there need to be another
heir, Sasami? I don't understand."
"Nor do I, yet. Not
exactly." Sasami admitted. "I just
know it's true. His soul is bound up somehow with another - their
futures
coincide and well, I don't know quite how. Not yet."
"And you have no idea about this...other soul?" Ayeka
pursed her lips. "Nothing at all? Because
if my
son's position is in any jeopardy, Sasami..."
"Shigure is Jurai's
true heir and he has the Jurai power." Sasami spoke with conviction, and Ayeka
felt her anxieties wane somewhat. "I'm sorry, Ayeka.
I don't mean to alarm you by raising doubts. It's just...well, I wasn't
sure if
I should tell you what I think...in case it upset you. And now I
suppose I've
told you this much...I should tell you the rest and let you decide for
yourself
how you feel."
"If you stopped speaking in riddles, I'd be able to tell you." Ayeka said acidly. "What is it, Sasami?
What knowledge?"
Sasami paused at the edge of the cradle,
gazing down
at the drowsy infant that curled up in his blankets, oblivious to the
huge
weight already hanging over his shoulders.
"Uncle is not going to be with us for many more years." She said
softly. Ayeka stared, colour draining from
her face.
"What do you mean?" She demanded. "Uncle Azusa
isn't old...not yet!"
"No...he isn't old." Sasami agreed. "But he is unwell. Oh, he
conceals it -
from us and from his court." As Ayeka
opened her mouth to protest. "I do not know how long he has. Nor
does he, and Tsunami doesn't want to give me too much information...I
think she
fears my reaction to it as much as she does yours. All I know is that
she will help sustain him as long as she can, and delay the inevitable
- but even she, with the limits of my life force, can't defeat this
weakness indefinitely."
She sighed heavily.
"Even though she knows I love Uncle very much." She added, her voice
wavering
slightly.
"What kind of illness?" Ayeka asked
softly,
reaching out to take Sasami's hand in
hers. Sasami shook her head.
"I don't know." she admitted. "A wasting
sickness - slow but persistant and
incurable. Something not even Jurai's divine tree-sap can touch - the
kind of debilitating disease that took Lady Kaede away from
Suki-oneechan and Lord Seiryo.
Last night, at the celebration for Shigure's
safe
birth, he took my hand and danced with me. I felt his pain then, Ayeka. And I knew. I think he realised it, also
- that I
felt it in him. But I didn't say anything about it, and neither did he.
Somehow
it seemed wrong to, when last night was a happy time."
She shrugged.
"He may live for some years yet." She added. "And I mean to make sure
he does, for as long as Tsunami and I are able to. But Shigure
will be Crown Prince before he reaches his
majority. That much I know - and you must know it too. You will be
Empress of Jurai, Ayeka...you
must be
prepared. Uncle's health is strong enough now, but it will fail and you
will be
needed. It's only fair you know the truth - before it becomes too late.
For Jurai's sake, you must be ready to
take control."
"I see." Ayeka bit her lip. "This is
sad news indeed. Much as I appreciate why you've told me...I almost
wish you
had not."
"I wish I didn't know either, Ayeka." Sasami admitted. "But that's how things are."
"You mentioned another soul, entwined with Shigure's."
Ayeka glanced at her son, a troubled
expression on
her face. "Someone who will take advantage of his
youth
and claim power in his stead?"
"I'm not sure yet how they're linked, except by blood." Sasami said quietly. "And that she's not yet
born, but
she will be...within a year, she'll draw her first breath."
"She...?"
"Yes. She." Sasami
agreed.
"And who is she, exactly?"
"Uncle Azusa's great, great grandaughter."
Sasami spread her hands. Ayeka's
eyes opened wide with disbelief, and she
shook her
head slowly.
"Tenchi...?" She whispered. "And...Ryoko?
But...?"
"Within a year, she'll draw her first breath." Sasami
repeated calmly. "Yes, Ayeka.
Tenchi and
Ryoko's daughter. Nozomi. The child who saved Jurai
once, and may yet be destined to do so again."
"To save Jurai...?" Ayeka
faltered. "No, you've confused me too much. All I asked of you was that
Shigure was blessed with the power - now
you tell me that Tenchi will have a child
and that Uncle will die and...and that
somehow this girl will be tied up in Shigure's
future? That her being so might
be important for Jurai?"
"Very." Sasami agreed pensively.
"Nozomi and Shigure
are connected, Ayeka, but I can't see how
they
are...not yet. But it seems to me that they're either united as allies
or
divided as foes. For Jurai's sake, we need
to try and
make sure it's the former."
"Meaning?"
"I met Nozomi Masaki Jurai
once, and Tsunami remembers her future, even if that future never came
to pass."
Sasami spoke dreamily, and Ayeka
had the impression that her sister was not completely focused on the
things she
was saying. "She has the Jurai Power also,
Ayeka. And she is