Homecomings
By William Benjamin Grilliette (evilpii@juno.com)
All material of or relating to *Tenchi Muyo!* are copyrighted by Pioneer LD and AIC.
All material of or relating to "Will and Nerti Pii" is property of William Benjamin Grilliette.
More information about cast, plot, and story is available at http://evilpii.dorm4.org/.
Perspective 1: Masaki
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Act 1
Scene 1
{A man's pain-filled screams echo off the smooth marble walls, which extend between Ionic columns
in a labyrinth of stone. Built ornately as a temple of great artistry, the darkness outside the
door shines no light into the corridors, which are illuminated only by the fluorescent lamps
every few meters. At the center of the maze, a prominent chamber stands, decorated with statues
of men dressed in priestly robes as well as an altar before a relief of a holy being, a woman of
light.}
{However, the artificial lights of the room rest in the shadows, lit by the eery crimson aura
from the man whose voice echos in the halls. His orange hair spikes down around his face and
elfin ears, even from the short rattail behind his head. His violet, feline eyes glare into the
distance while his teeth are bared, trying now to withhold the screams of pain. A combat uniform
of black with flaring leaves of red covers his body, but does not ease the feeling within his
form.}
{He slams his heals together to attention while clasping his hands, his index fingers in line
with one another directed towards the ceiling far above. Soon, obsidian markings begin to appear
and grow along the sides of his face as dark clouds envelop his eyes. The blood aura around him
then flares into a blaze for a few moments before his knees buckle beneath him. The young man
falls to his knees shortly before his hands separate and hit the ground, stopping his face from
continuing to the floor. The markings on his face and the aura around him instantly vanish while
the darkness in his gaze slowly fades to show his true eyes glaring into the stone below him.
Sweat drips from his forehead and hair as he pushes himself to sit on his legs somewhat like the
zarei fashion of the Orient or students of the martial arts.}
{He sighs with some frustration before he hears the clapping of hands from the entrance to the
room. The man near the altar looks back over his shoulder to see another man standing in the
entrance shrouded by the light of the lamps. This second man's blonde hair is tied in a ponytail
while some falls to either side of his tanned face. His ice-blue eyes behind round glasses add
to the grin on his face as he walks toward the man in the center, the black priest's robes
flowing behind him. The blonde man in priestly garb stops before the orange-haired warrior and
extends his hand. The warrior grabs his hand and pulls himself back to his feet with a nod of
thanks to his apparent friend. The blonde man speaks his questions while the electrical lighting
suddenly flickers back into existance within the altar room.}
Blonde Man: Practicing again, Ryobachi? I'd thought you'd at least take a break after sparring
with me.
{Ryobachi shakes his head and replies with a confident smile to his ally.}
Ryobachi: Hardly, Hotsuma, old friend. I plan to be ready when our next assignment comes.
{Hotsuma nods.}
Hotsuma: I see. You're still angry that the daughters of Ryoshu escaped a few weeks ago.
Aren't you?
{Ryobachi's smile fades to a slight scowl as he walks past his friend.}
Ryobachi: We had a chance to deal with them here on Ryua, but we let them get away.
{Hotsuma nods and follows Ryobachi out into the corridor, where the two walk side-by-side.}
Hotsuma: Forget it. There will be other chances to deal with your betrothed and her half-breed
sister.
{The warrior sighs but agrees with the priest before Hotsuma asks him of another topic.}
Hotsuma: When are your final trials?
Ryobachi: Soon. I'll become a deacon and participate in the council's decisions.
{Hotsuma laughs to himself.}
Hotsuma: The fact that our Lady commanded that you be ordained had little to do with it, of
course?
{Ryobachi shakes his head with a grin.}
Ryobachi: You would bring that up, wouldn't you? I'm surprised you haven't been trying to get
ahead of things.
{The blonde adjusts his glasses.}
Hotsuma: I have other plans.
{The two chuckle to themselves as they pass reliefs engraved upon the walls of the temple. Each
tells of a different story from the history of their people: their bonding to the woman of
light, the great war against those people bonded to the trees, and the reunion of their people
for a second war. Also, statues of various historical figures from their race stand along their
path as they exit the building. Ryobachi stops and glances back at the last statue, one of a man
with features similar to his own. The warrior rests his hand on the stone figure's shoulder with
a subtle smile when Hotsuma comes to his side quietly.}
Hotsuma: First priest to infiltrate the pirate guilds and prevent their unity outside our
control... Your father was a patriot.
{Ryobachi nods.}
Ryobachi: Yeah, I know, but we'll be the ones who unify the Ryoan people again.
{He extends his hand to his friend who grips his hand firmly in agreement.}
Hotsuma: Unity to Ryua and death to Jurai.
{From within the temple, a rageful yell pulls Ryobachi and Hotsuma's attention back inward. The
two dart their gazes inside with a few short words between themselves.}
Ryobachi: What the...?!
Hotsuma: Wasn't that Lord Tae's voice...?!
{Ryobachi glances to his friend and nods before the two of them levitate from the ground and
literally fly into the corridors of the temple once more. The two Ryoans reach a chamber close
to the altar room where a single Pentinian man wearing a combat suit of brown and red holding an
obsidian energy boardsword. The blades hung across his shoulders shimmer as do his grey eyes in
the dull light of the flat monitor screen hung on the facing wall. The two Ryoan men are
dumbfounded when they catch a glimpse of the image before the raven-haired man and is reflected
off the numerous picture frames upon the other walls.}
{The image shows a Japanese man and a Ryoan woman smiling happily in wedding garb as
photographers snap their picture while they walk through the corridors of a space station.
Behind them, a young American man leads a Pentinian woman in their own different wedding attire,
the Pentinian very similar to a typical Ryoan. Each pair greets the people around as they pass
kindly while Ryobachi's eyes focus on the Ryoan woman's golden eyes and cyan hair. His
bewilderment slowly turns into a glare of anger as he grips his hands tightly, similar to the
other warrior in the room. Hotsuma looks over to the black-haired man and starts to question
him.}
Hotsuma: Leon...?
{Leon's eyes dance with rageful anger at the pair behind the Japanese couple, the Terran and
Pentinian. Behind her blonde hair, the Pentinian woman's grey eyes seem to be identical to his
own. Leon draws his blade back and swings into the monitor, right between the images of the
husbands and wives. Sparks shoot from the screen as the image starts to flicker, but before it
fades, the news broadcast lists the names of the couples at the bottom of the screen: "Tenchi
and Ryoko Masaki" and "Will and Nerti Pii".}
End Scene 1
Scene 2
{Starlight shines solidly around the empty bridge of the Jurai ship Funaho without the flickering
caused by the atmospheres of most planets. Water babbles through the organic canals of the floor
panels, supplying nutrients to the various parts of the living vessel. At the center of the
bridge where the wood becomes terraced, the primary tree itself stands proudly with its green
leaves shimmering in the dull light with dew as if on a terrestrial morning. However, the trunk
of the mighty flora bears a deep crevice, torn by some form of blade. The opening extends close
to the core of the tree, the sides blacked by ash and beaded by hardened sap.}
{On the monitors around the chamber, no planets are close enough to be seen, only the glory of
the void. Galaxies swirl about their dense cores while vast nebulae glow with brilliant colors,
whether reflecting the light of nearby stars and galaxies or illuminated by newborn stars within.
Similar to this silent ballet, the corridors of Funaho hold no people or sounds, save the
occasional lap of water. Dim lights show the paths through the ship between the many sealed
chambers.}
{Yet, one room among the others has some meager light escaping from the edges of the door. This
room is the quarters of the tree's master, separated from the others within a lush arboretum.
The master's personal chambers are constructed much like a small villa within the vegetation,
constructed majestically and with a sense of simplicity. Within, the building is much like that
of a home on Jurai, decorated with beautiful reliefs of history and mythology while still
possessing the necessary conveniences of modern life.}
{The light within the room trails from the bed chambers where the subtle light floats from the
edges of the room to highlight the environs. Upon the walls, various portraits and photographs
are held in their frames to be seen. Many photographs are of familiar faces, especially one in
particular. This single picture depicts the residents of the Masaki home and their closest
friends soon after the defeat of Kain in 1996. In the center, Tenchi Masaki is once again caught
between the tug of love between Ryoko Ryua and Ayeka Jurai while eight-year-old Sasami stands
happily nearby. The great Washu Hakubi stands contentedly smug in her learning as the two Galaxy
Police (GP) officers Kiyone Makibi and Mihoshi Kuramitsu stand together, Mihoshi clinging to
Kiyone's arm. Also, the priest Katsuhito Masaki, or rather Yosho Jurai, grins to himself
witnessing the humor in the scene, both overt and latent. Nobuyuki Masaki is notably missing
since he probably took this picture.}
{Within the bed, a man and a woman lay together on their sides, the man holding his partner close
beneath the sheets with his arms protectively around her. Her long, light-colored hair lays
across the pillows around their heads while his short, black hair intertwines with hers. Her
voice purrs up from her lungs as she adjusts herself within his grasp, her hands emerging from
the sheets to gently touch the firm lines of the muscles of those arms. Her lips grin
contentedly as her feline eyes open sleepily to look quietly into the distance. She blinks and
then closes her eyes again before resting her head back against her lover's shoulder. She sighs
happily when his strong voice whispers into her ear.}
Man: Good morning, Ryoko...
{Ryoko shifts herself onto her back so she can face the man with her while her voice purrs once
again. She loses herself in his dark eyes before those eyes close as he kisses her lightly on
her lips and smiles back at her. She cups his cheek with her hand and caresses his face gently.}
Ryoko: Tenchi...
{Tenchi rests his hand on her abdomen and slowly draws his palm and fingertips along the firm
muscles of her body as well as the soft texture of her skin hidden beneath the sheets. The two
of them speak softly despite the deserted state of Funaho's corridors.}
Tenchi: How are you feeling...?
{She blinks slowly in her answer.}
Ryoko: Relaxed... and rested...
{Her hand wanders from his cheek down to his shoulder as his hand beneath her travels up to her
far shoulder. Tenchi smiles as Ryoko's breathing becomes more of a subtle feline purr in his
arms.}
Tenchi: I never knew Ryoans purred like that...
{She giggles and nods while one of her knees bends upward beneath the sheet.}
Ryoko: Yeah... Only when we're truly contented...
{His fingers grip a portion of her hair and begin to mesh it between themselves as he muses to
Ryoko.}
Tenchi: To think... Three years... and now, here we are...
{Ryoko's free hand taps Tenchi's nose with her index finger lightly while she grins slyly and
knowingly.}
Ryoko: You know how much of that time I spent trying to get you here...?
{Tenchi laughs lightly and nods while his right hand moves from her abdomen to the far side of
her hips gradually, never losing contact with her form. He then feels her hand leave his
shoulder and follow the side of his torso as he glances into the distance for a moment.}
Tenchi: So much has changed... so much has happened...
{He looks back into her eyes with some concern in his gaze and voice.}
Tenchi: You think it will...?
{Ryoko's eyes also become serious as her finger is pressed perpendicularly to his mouth to
silence him. He watches the emotion smoldering in her eyes as she speaks.}
Ryoko: I've said many times that I don't regret my life, Tenchi... Those were lies... or at
least they are now... What matters in my life now is you and the family back on Earth...
That choice I will never regret...
{Her gaze drifts away from his eyes for a moment before he lowers his head to meet her line of
sight again. Their eyes meet again as Tenchi nods in affirmation.}
Tenchi: Nor will I... In a way, we shared this life before... I want to give you that life
again...
{She smiles softly as her lips meet his once again. A few sparkles of water fly from her eyes
when she shuts them to lose herself in the kiss. Ryoko rolls on her side to face Tenchi and wrap
her arms around him as his encircle her again as a passion enters into their kiss.}
{On a nearby nightstand, two gold rings lay side by side next to a beautifully ornate bracelet.
The metal bracelet reflects the subtle lighting causing it to shine and shimmer some from its
design of three intertwined vines, each supporting the others, which blossom into a trio of
flowers. In that follage, a perfect, crimson sphere rests and flickers with a soft ruby light,
which illuminates a photograph on the stand with the jewelry.}
{Within the photograph, Tenchi and Ryoko sit center in their wedding garb of traditional Japanese
origin: Tenchi in grey hakama and a black gi with a black cloak while Ryoko wears a white,
hooded kimono. Both seem happy, though a glimmer of melancholy can be seen in the eyes of both.
Nobuyuki and Yosho stand proudly behind Tenchi, dressed much like he is. Behind Ryoko, Nagi and
fifteen-year-old Sasami stand supportively behind Ryoko, both dressed in white gi and red hakama.
The backdrop is that of the Masaki home on Earth, where the wind blows the sakura petals from the
surrounding groves of cherries to fall upon the ceremonial clothes of the group.}
End Scene 2
Scene 3
{The pink petals of the sakura float down and land softly on the water's surface of the lake
which stands before the Masaki home on Earth. Between the water's edge and the treeline, the
red-roofed home stands proudly in the golden light of the waning daylight. However, unlike time
past, the house is quiet, almost forebodingly silent. The porch is littered with metallic boxes
resting upon and against one another, each sealed tightly to hide their contents.}
{The front door swings open as Nobuyuki, dressed in his slacks and casual-business shirt, walks
out onto the porch and glances around at the boxes. He puts his hands on his hips and scowls
slightly when a teenage girl steps out beside him, her spikey, fire-red hair blazing behind her
in constrast to her green Universal Science Academy (SA) uniform. Dr Washu Hakubi glances around
at the packages in a detached manner when Nobuyuki raises a hand to scratch the back of his
head.}
Nobuyuki: These are all of Nagi's things...?! I wouldn't think a great bounty hunter like her
would carry this much luggage.
{Washu shakes her head and corrects him.}
Washu: Oh, this isn't Nagi's stuff.
{His eyes dart toward Washu as she walks down the stairs to the front yard before she continues.}
Washu: It's yours and Tenchi's.
{The architect's eyes widen in surprise before he dashes to catch up with her and stammer to
question her.}
Nobuyuki: Wh..what?! Nagi's moving in, but Tenchi and I are NOT getting evicted from my own
house!
{She closes her eyes and sighs before answering him in an annoyed fashion.}
Washu: YOU'RE the one who agreed to trade rooms with Tenchi since he and Ryoko are married.
Sasami and I pulled everything from your and Tenchi's rooms to swap them.
{Nobuyuki blinks and then angles his head to the side before asking a confused question.}
Nobuyuki: What about Ryoko's things?
{Washu opens her eyes and stops to look upward into the dusk sky.}
Washu: Nagi wanted to handle her half-sister's move herself. After all, she is getting Ryoko's
room.
{A hum is heard high above which slowly grows louder with time as Nobuyuki follows Washu's gaze
into the air above.}
Nobuyuki: I can understand that, but you still didn't have to go through my things.
{Washu laughs to herself.}
Washu: Notice something missing?
{His eyes glance to the minute genius with a scowl before turning again to the sky.}
Nobuyuki: Not what your "great" mind would think. My high school sketchbook was missing.
{She nods.}
Washu: Ah, that. I think it got boxed with Tenchi's stuff when he and Ryoko shipped off on
Funaho.
{Sweat beads on the side of his face while he smiles wryly and sighs hard.}
Nobuyuki: Great... My son and his wife have all the sketches of this house from when I first
thought it up...
{He stomps his foot in frustration.}
Nobuyuki: I needed those!
{The hum above them becomes a constant, tolerable volume. The two then gaze upon Ken-Ohki's
silvery-white ship form hovering above the lake. A violet orb of light appears next to
Ken-Ohki's hull and floats down to lightly touch the ground before Washu and Nobuyuki. The light
fades away to reveal the strong female form of Nagi Jurai, the great bounty hunter. Clothed in
her violet fire uniform and exiled Juraian cape, Nagi holds a coded suitcase, presumably
containing her belongings. Her weapons remain at their ready positions, close at hand for speed.
Her cowl is pulled back to allow her spiked, regal hair to hang behind her head. Her hair is
held in place only by the Juraian Key shaped as a hairband, its purple crest silent as is the
silver encrusted gem embedded within it. The black Mark of Rage crosses the left side of her
face, just below her crimson eyes. She idly glances between Washu and Nobuyuki before she turns
to Nobuyuki and bows respectfully.}
Nagi: Mr Masaki, I thank you for allowing me to come into your home. I will be sure to have my
rent on time.
{Nobuyuki has sweat run down the side of his face before he shakes his head.}
Nobuyuki: Nagi... you're family... We wouldn't ask you to pay rent.
{The hunter stands and coldly looks into the Terran man's eyes, making him somewhat uneasy.
Washu speaks up and draws her piercing gaze from Nobuyuki.}
Washu: Especially not with the way the Terran economy is right now.
{Nagi nods as the Ohki vessel behind her vanishes in a flash of red light. The white cabbit
Ken-Ohki lands softly on her shoulder, his red eyes and yellow forehead gem gleaming in the
sunlight. Nagi closes her eyes and answers firmly and resolutely.}
Nagi: Very well. However, I will contribute to the upkeep of the house as well as the household
funds.
{She steps forward toward the two before her when they move aside for her to pass. She silently
walks toward the Masaki home carrying her bag while Nobuyuki idly muses to himself, watching her
go.}
Nobuyuki: You'd think she would have changed more in three years...
{Washu's green eyes watch Nagi enter the house with a knowing gaze.}
Washu: More than you'd think...
{Within the Masaki home, Nagi's foot touches the wooden floor of the rest of the house with her
shoe. She stops and looks down in thought before closing her eyes in resignation. With a mental
command, Ken-Ohki jumps from her shoulder as she sets her suitcase on the floor. She removes her
red and blue combat shoes and sets them next to the door on a small ledge, where others would
also place their shoes in respect for the home. Ken-Ohki looks up at her with a cabbit's grin on
his face for her, which softens the look in her eyes somewhat. She nods before taking the case
once again in her hand. Her feet are heard quietly patting the floor as she walks toward the
stairs and begin to scale them. Ken-Ohki follows her up the stairs when she looks around the
house curiously. She comments in a whisper to herself.}
Nagi: So quiet...
{She reaches the second floor and goes directly to the door to Ryoko's former room. Her right
hand touches the door when a memory fills her mind, one from the last time she touched this door.
She can hear her own voice arguing with Ryoko over her desired duel to finish her half-sister
long before this day.}
Nagi: What do you think you're doing? With a serious injury like that, you might not even make
it to the palace!
Ryoko: Shut up!! Do you want to fight me now or not?!
Nagi: I don't take advantage of the wounded.
Ryoko: If that's your choice, then I guess I'm going... I'll catch you later...
{The memory fades away as she opens the door and gaze upon the room. She looks over the pink
love seat with its soft red velvet pillow where Ryoko slept so many nights. Behind that, the
colorful changing blind stands folded to one side to expose her chests of drawers containing what
wardrobe she left behind. Nagi enters this room and catches sight of a small Japanese table and
some other miscellaneous funiture hidden behind the door. Ken-Ohki hops into the room and begins
to sniff about the quarters curiously. Nagi seats herself in proper zarei fashion as she sets her
suitcase on the table, noting several water stains on the table. Nagi looks at those circular
stains while she imagines a bottle of some liquor or another sitting in those places, sweating on
the table. She blinks the image away when she hears someone coming up the stairs. Ken-Ohki's
ears also perk up at the sound before he turns to face the door.}
{She turns to the doorway to see teenage Sasami walk into sight. Sasami's pinkish eyes brighten
at the sight of the child of Light of Darkness. The mark of Tsunami upon her forehead is silent,
partially hidden behind her azure bangs of hair. Her long tresses flow behind her freely to her
waist, cut shorter and no longer bound in the twin ponytails of Juraian heritage. She wears a
simple pinkish dress that slightly shows her physique as a fifteen-year-old girl, strong and
healthy. The younger Juraian princess holds her hands behind her back uneasily as she welcomes
Nagi.}
Sasami: Hi, Nagi... Hope your trip was alright...
{Nagi's melancholy slowly melts into a kindness with a subtle smile for the teen. She nods and
answers the princess's question.}
Nagi: It was uneventful. How are matters here?
Sasami: Very quiet. Washu's planning to take Ryo-Ohki to the closest Galaxy Police headquarters
to meet some Science Academy colleagues of hers.
{Nagi nods.}
Nagi: Yes, I've heard they're considering putting an SA branch in Tokyo as well as a GP station
in New York.
Sasami: Yeah, it's all great. I've been watching the news broadcasts and hearing about how the
world's changing so quickly. Just great...
{The girl's eyes drift to the floor, her thoughts distracted from her conversation with the new
member of their household. Nagi stands and walks to her side to place a comforting hand on her
shoulder. Sasami looks up quietly to Nagi who gazes back at her with sympathy for her.}
Nagi: I know what's bothering you, Sasami... It was her choice to leave... You know that...
{Sasami's face cringes some as she nods. She then spins away from Nagi and apologizes quickly.}
Sasami: I'm sorry, Nagi...!!
{The princess dashes away and up the stairs where Nagi hears the slamming of a door, the princess
hiding in her room. Nagi sighs hard as Ken-Ohki jumps upon her shoulder again, meowing softly
and solemnly. The hunter nods and rubs his fur slowly.}
Nagi: I know... I'm worried too... Even if she didn't lose five years of her life... Ayeka's
departure hurt her most of all...
{Nagi turns away from the door and walks to a small window with a view of the small backyard and
lush forest leading to the Masaki Shrine. She stares into the trees gravely as she muses to her
small companion.}
Nagi: Her sister was more than a sister to her... She was more of a mother... a deeply loving
mother...
{She glances to the side to see a photograph of a Ryoan woman, one with a spiked tail of tan hair
contrasted by her soft blue eyes. Sitting in the woman's lap is a young Ryoko, her eyes full of
spirit and energy. Nagi then sees her face reflected in the glass over that portrait as she
extends her hand toward the picture. Her fingers lightly touch the glass.}
Nagi: Something I never knew...
End Scene 3
End Act 1