Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction ❯ Daydreams ❯ The Sunshine of Your Love ( Chapter 5 )

"Tenchi Muyô" and all characters herein are the property of Pioneer and AIC, save those created by the author. This is a fanfic, and is done for fun, not profit. All the warnings from the previous chapters apply to this one as well.

Daydreams

By William Nichols

Chapter Five: The Sunshine of Your Love

"He was?"

Ryoko froze, the weight on her stomach increasing tenfold. Why would he be upset that he couldn't find me? Unless… Don't set your self up for a fall you can't climb back from. But that's just it, I've already fallen…I just wonder where rock bottom is?

"Are you certain he was looking for me?" Ryoko asked Sasami again.

"Yeah," she answered, turning her attention from the anime she was watching. "He asked me if I had seen you at all today. I told him that I had not, and then…" she paused as a flash of light from the superhero on the television screen caught her attention.

"Then what?" Ryoko asked, perhaps a little more anxious sounding than she would have liked.

"He asked Washu where you were," Sasami continued, "but she didn't know where you were either."

"And he was upset?"

"Uh-huh."

"Mad upset or sad upset?" Ryoko probed.

"I dunno," Sasami answered noncommittally.

"Sheesh…" Ryoko breathed under her breath. "Thanks kiddo," she added. "He's bound to be here somewhere."

Sasami giggled to herself. "Good luck," she said as Ryoko blinked from sight. Sometimes being one in the same with a goddess has its advantages.

"Where could he be?" Ryoko asked no one in particular as she phased in and out of each room in the house. He's not at the shrine, she thought, he's not in the house, so where the hell is he? Momentarily perching on her favorite rafter, Ryoko tried to imagine just where Tenchi could be. "Oh yeah!" she chirped, remembering one last resource.

:: Washu! :: she called out across her link. :: Washu! I know you're back there so answer me! ::

:: Geeze… :: Washu whined back. :: You sure are determined not to let mommy work on anything are you, my wittle Wee-woko? ::

:: Knock it off! :: Ryoko snapped back. :: Where's Tenchi? ::

:: He's not in here, :: Washu said feigning confusion. :: Did you check the ladies side of the onsen? Perhaps Nobuyuki's hentai collection?::

:: Come on! :: Ryoko begged. :: Mother, :: she said truly, :: please! I need to find him… ::

Washu was struck by the desperation flooding across the link from her daughter. This was not the typical 'Ryoko's looking for Tenchi' feeling she usually got. There was a pained edge to these feelings. Coupled with Tenchi's inquiries about Ryoko earlier, Washu immediately went on the defensive. :: What has he done to you? :: Washu asked protectively. :: If that little bastard has hurt you in any way…::

:: Nothing like that!:: Ryoko sent back, 'Not yet at least…'. :: I just need to talk to him.::

:: I see,:: Washu sighed. She was relieved that she did not have to turn her favorite guinea pig into a water sprite or worse, endanger her chances of future grandchildren. :: He's out by Funaho.::

:: Thanks mom,:: Ryoko sent back as she phased out of sight.

:: Anytime,:: Washu answered. :: Anytime.::

__

Tenchi rested his back against Funaho as he finished another beer. This had to be the worst day of his life. Well, maybe not the worst, but it definitely ranked amongst the top few. "I've lost her…" he mumbled to himself as he tapped another can of Kirin. "I've really lost her thish time…"

Trying to be a man, Tenchi sucked back his tears with a bit of a choke. If his dad could survive the death of his mother, he could manage this. He had hesitated for the slightest moment when Ayeka had told him to go to Ryoko, but he quickly steeled his resolve to find her. As he raced through the woods and down the steps his excitement grew. He would finally be able to get this burden off of his chest. He would finally do the right thing. He would tell Ryoko he loved her without a shadow of a doubt and nothing would keep him from her.

But she was gone. Sasami had not seen her. She was not reclining in the rafters. She was not napping on the roof. Nor was she lounging in the onsen. In fact no one had seen her since the night before. And all of this was compounded when Washu couldn't tell him where Ryoko was earlier. She always knew where her daughter was. Always. No, Ryoko was gone. His Ryoko was gone. Tenchi chuckled softly. She'll never be my Ryoko now, he thought dejectedly. 'I've lost her…She's really gone…'

Tenchi sighed as he stared at the top of the can of Kirin. Even his daydreams of Ryoko were gone. Usually he could close his eyes and imagine her in a red silk robe posing on a divan would come to him, or the picture of her in the white gi and red hakama. Those two stood out amongst countless other daydreams of her. They were his comfort zones, a safe place where his mind could drift with the possibilities of the future. They were times when he would love and be loved. But now they were gone.

Every time Ryoko would come to him, or him to her, just as always. But then things would grow dark. Just as Tenchi would reach for his love, she would dissolve into a shimmering cloud of dust, blown away from him by an unseen wind. Just like his Ryoko. Gone. As the darkness would lift Tenchi would find himself alone, in old age either in his studio or at the shrine. His dreams were gone. Just like she was. Forever. And after last night, he couldn't blame her either. Tenchi was sure that she was chasing her own fortunes across the stars with little or no thought about the simple priest in training back on that insignificant blue speck called earth by now.

Everything just seemed to fade to black for Tenchi.

He could not go to Ayeka, not after what she had sacrificed to him today. She had given him permission to love her rival the way she longed to be loved. Surely Ayeka would more than likely welcome his affections; maybe even rejoice in them. But it would be hollow. The both of them would always be haunted by the fact that his true love had been lost. The lingering shadows and specters would eventually turn into bitterness, then hatred. Then not only would a love be lost, but a cherished friendship as well. Toka's words haunted Tenchi at that thought:

"And a friend is better than not having one at all."

His indecisiveness had truly cost him dearly, just has his friend had forewarned.

__

Ryoko materialized a good bit away from Funaho. Even from the air, the waning evening light made it difficult to discern if Tenchi was there or not. Only the faintest traces of his aftershave carried on the wind confirmed his presence to her, but it was heavily masked. An instant later she reappeared a couple yards from Tenchi. Ducking behind an aged oak tree, she spotted him sitting with his arms around his knees with his back up against the old space tree. He appeared to be glowering softly to himself, which came as a surprise to Ryoko. Even more surprising was the sight of scattered beer cans at his feet. There were four by her count, and the fifth was clutched by the rim in one hand. 'Kirin Ichiban,' she mused to herself after catching a waft off the gentle breeze that was blowing.

'Why would he be drinking?' Ryoko wondered as Tenchi's head rocked with another gentle sob. 'He has his princess, so why is he so maudlin?' Ryoko scowled. 'Typical!' she huffed inwardly. 'He's too chicken shit to tell me to my face either! I guess no one is going to wear the pants in that relationship! The nobles on Jurai will eat him alive in less than a year!' But watching Tenchi so depressed had the same affect on her. Even if he did not return her feelings, she could not bear to see him like this. It was almost more heartbreak than she could handle.

'Should I go to him?' Ryoko thought, her anger wavering. 'I know what he's decided; the look on Ayeka's face said it all. I just hate being looked down on like I'm a poor decrepit creature.' Ryoko sighed. She could not let her anger get the better of her. 'It's not Ayeka's fault. She can't help it if Tenchi fell in love with her. And I really shouldn't be mad at Tenchi either. He has to do what his heart tells him. I should have seen it years ago. Maybe Ayeka was telling the truth years ago when she said the old man wanted them together…' Choking back her emotions, Ryoko swiped at the tears brimming her eyes with back of her hand. 'I might as well get this over with so I can move on and let them be happy together…'

Moving slowly away from her blind, Ryoko walked lightly. With each soft crunch of grass and leaves, she felt like a piece of her was dying. Each step another little bit faded, until she found her self a few scant paces from Tenchi. He was still sobbing lightly and Ryoko could just barely make out what he was saying. 'What did he say?' she asked himself as Tenchi mumbled on to himself. 'Who has he lost? Did Ayeka reject him? That has to be it! Why else would she act that way and him be so upset? Well, well, well…' Ryoko started to cackle inwardly. 'But I'm not going to be a consolation prize either,' she sternly thought to herself after the briefest imagines of her and Tenchi danced across her mind. 'No.'

Finally after seemed like an eternity, Tenchi looked up. At first he shifted his gaze back to the ground as if Ryoko had been some ethereal specter. The second time his snapped back as the image registered on his intoxicated state of mind. A shiver raced up his body as his eyes went wide as the silvery moon beginning to ascend above them. Tenchi sat there, trembling and staring, wondering if this was real or just an alcohol induced hallucination. "Ry-Ry-oko?" he finally stammered out.

"It's me," Ryoko answered, faking a small laugh and grin.

"Ish thought you werez gone," Tenchi slurred as he wobbly made it to his feet. "Iz gots it," he slurred again as Ryoko moved to steady him.

Ryoko couldn't help but stymie a giggle at the sight of an inebriated Tenchi. 'I might as well have one more good laugh before I go…'

"I thought I losht you…" Tenchi said as fresh tears streaked his face.

'Lost ME?' Ryoko thought, blinking a few times in confusion. 'What the hell is rambling about?'

"Gods Ry'ko," he stuttered, "don't do that to me."

Ryoko's blood ran cold at being called that name. He had not called her that in a long number of years. 'Oh gods…' she trembled inwardly. Those memories were so cherished, and to have him pervert them so felt like he was twisting a dagger into her heart. Every memory of a young Tenchi playing with ran though her mind. Chasing dragonflies; playing hide and seek; and dancing high in the sky for a cheering youth whom she had come to love, whom she knew she would love- all of it returned to her. To have him call her his childhood name for her now, in this state of mind, was heart wrenching. 'I love you Ry'ko,' her mind teased from days long gone by. 'I love you…' "Don't call me that," she warned sternly.

"What?" Tenchi asked. Ryoko could smell the alcohol on his breath and being exuded from his pores. "I just said your name 'Ry'ko'," he said unawares of his faux pass.

"Please don't," Ryoko begged. The memory of a six-year-old Tenchi trying to hug her phantasmagoric form, begging her not to cry came to her suddenly. 'I'll always love you Ry'ko,' her mind played in a tiny version of Tenchi's voice from almost a decade ago. That was the last time he had he told her he loved her. And she knew it would always be the last time Tenchi said he loved her. 'So don't be sad Ry'ko…' "Please don't…" she whimpered.

"Ry'ko," Tenchi pleaded again. "Wash the matter Ry'ko?" Ryoko's silent tears troubled Tenchi as he shakily strode forward. The waves of grief rolling off her were nearly palpable. They were tugging at his heart, begging him to make them go away.

Ryoko felt like her heart was being shattered by the one she loved the most as Tenchi waddled closer. 'Don't cry…' her mind teased in his young voice again. "Stay away," she cried as he stopped inches from her. "Just stay away…"

"But Ry'ko," he began, "I…I…"

"You what?" she said tersely. Love Ayeka? Ryoko added mentally. 'See me as a horrid monster incapable of human feelings only to be taken pity on? Do you?!' she accused silently.

Tenchi stilled his quavering jaw for a second before he stepped forward and kissed her. Instantly Ryoko froze as Tenchi's lips met hers. At first her sorrow was replaced with joy. Tenchi was kissing her; really kissing her. But as her tension eased Tenchi began to slip his tongue into her mouth. It was the taste of beer on him that shocked Ryoko back to reality, 'He's only doing this because he's drunk!' raced across her mind.

"Ry'ko?" Tenchi asked as Ryoko abruptly broke the kiss and stepped back.

"Stay away," she sobbed anew, her hand covering her mouth. "Please…"

"But Ry'ko," Tenchi began only to feel the sting of Ryoko's hand on his cheek. It hurt. A lot.

"I said stay away!" she screamed, phasing out of sight in the process.

Sobered, Tenchi held a hand to the stinging imprint on the side of his face. "I love you…" he whimpered to the night air. "I love you…"

___

Ryoko collapsed onto the sofa seconds after she rematerialized in the house. The summation of all her angst and heartbreak billowed forth in body shaking sobs as she openly mourned the loss of her love. All of her millennia old insecurities and ingrained fears took control as her grief came out in great heaves. 'He did that out of drunken pity!' she bemoaned. Atop of this, were echoes of Kagato endless abuses. 'He was right. No one can love a monster like me. Not even the man I love…the man I loved…'

"Ryoko?" Ayeka asked timidly as she slid back the door from the veranda. She had been contemplating her actions from earlier for the past few hours when the sounds of Ryoko's weeping brought her back to this plain of existence. 'My word, what could have upset so?' The sobbed name of their object of affection answered the princess' question. 'Oh no…what did Tenchi say to her?'

"Stay away," Ryoko sobbed, too exhausted emotionally to flee any further. "Please…" she begged. "Just leave me alone…"

'Why is she upset so? Tenchi loves her the way she has longed for…unless…' Ayeka pondered. 'How could that blockhead foul things up this badly?' "What happened?" Ayeka begged, sitting down next to Ryoko. "Whether we like to admit it or not," the princess continued, "we are friends Ryoko. So please, tell me what happened?"

Ryoko sniffed loudly and looked up to Ayeka with watery golden eyes. 'She still considers me her friend?' she thought. 'Even after all this…' Calming her nerves as well as she could, Ryoko began to recount what had transpired since the night before. She had left, heartbroken that Tenchi jilted her so quickly when Ayeka had walked in on their near kiss. Katsuhito had found her crying at the grotto and took her in for the night, doing his best to calm her nerves and reassure her that things would work for the best. Finally by this evening the old man had convinced her to seek Tenchi out, give him a chance to explain himself. That is when she ran into Ayeka on the shrine steps. Ryoko told Ayeka how she was certain that Tenchi had chosen her. The events from that point flowed quickly. "I found him by Funaho," Ryoko continued after wiping the tears from her eyes. Ayeka felt her eyes water as Ryoko painfully related what happened up to the point where Tenchi kissed her.

"Then what happened?" Ayeka prodded as Ryoko drifted back into the bogs of despair.

"I…I slapped him," she said weakly. "The I came back here, and you found me not long after that…"

Ayeka allowed silent tears to streak her face. 'Had I only told Ryoko then…' she lamented. 'And that fool had to go and get drunk of all times…I have to help make this right.'

"I don't know what to do…" Ryoko sniffed.

Ayeka inhaled deeply and steeled her resolve to set things right. "I am afraid that part of the blame is mine," she confessed.

"Huh?"

"I told Tenchi to go to you," Ayeka elaborated. "He was hurting so badly and I could see that you were too…" Ayeka wiped a tear as her voice choked.

"What are you saying Ayeka?" Ryoko deadpanned. The last thing she wanted was to be patronized, especially by Ayeka.

Ayeka sighed. 'She can be denser than Tenchi at times.' "Why do you think I sent Tenchi to you?" she asked in a tone that was a little too condescending.

"Gee…I dunno? Why?" Ryoko automatically retorted, her old defense mechanisms popping back in place. "I'm just a stupid demon, remember?"

Hearing her own words thrown back at her, Ayeka cringed. Now she saw how much her words had hurt Ryoko. 'I have done her and myself a great disservice all these years,' Ayeka reflected. 'In my jealousy I disregarded her feelings…Tsunami help me. I am as worse a monster than I ever accused her of being.' "I'm sorry," Ayeka atoned.

"It's true," Ryoko sniffed. "I am just a stupid demon. You said it. Kagato said it…Tenchi said it…"

"Tenchi has most certainly never said that," Ayeka said sternly, holding Ryoko by the shoulders. "That damnable miscreant Kagato said many things which are not true, and that is one of them."

Ryoko managed a faint chuckle. "You must be serious to use profanity."

Ayeka smirked at Ryoko's astute observation. "You never asked why I sent Tenchi to you," she said, returning to her previous train of thought.

"Why?" Ryoko asked, fresh tears brimming her eyes.

"He loves…" Ayeka whimpered, her voice choking, "…you…"

Ryoko sat silently as Ayeka momentarily broke down in front of her. 'He loves me?' she thought incredulously as Ayeka shed silent tears. 'He…loves…me?' More tears left their silver trails on her face as Ayeka's words replayed across her mind. "He loves…" she asked softly, "me?"

Ayeka nodded in conformation. It was all she could manage. A shiver worked its way up Ayeka's spine as Ryoko moved up onto the sofa proper and wrapped her arms around her. "Forgive him," Ayeka croaked. "He didn't mean to hurt you…he needs you and you him right now."

Ryoko nodded as she rose from the couch and headed for the foyer. "Thank you," she said softly.

Ayeka smiled and nodded as Ryoko phased from site, leaving her alone in the living room. Strangely, when Ryoko left the waves of despair she expected to wash over her did not come. Instead Ayeka found a sort of solace in the newfound stillness of the house. A small voice deep inside comforted her, telling her that she had done the right thing not once, but twice this day. It also told her that her reward would come, and she would never be alone as long as she still had friends.

'The best of friends,' she thought with a soft smile. 'My family, my dear, dear family…whom I love.'

___

Ryoko reappeared at the foot of the shrine steps. After her ordeal this day, that was as far as she could manage in one hop. Concentrating, she blinked out of sight and reappeared a third of the way up the meandering tread. Two more quick hops and Ryoko was leaning against on the uprights framing the torii's curved lintel. "I'm outta shape…" she panted, with a wry smile.

"About time you made it up here missy," Washu cackled, her paper lantern casting a golden tinge onto Ryoko's alabaster skin.

"Indeed," Katsuhito seconded, carrying a lantern himself.

"Where's Tenchi?" Ryoko huffed, still trying to catch her wind.

"He's fine," Katsuhito said, placing a comforting hand on Ryoko's shoulder.

"But he's gonna have one helluva headache in the morning," Washu said with a chuckle. "And I mean a helluva one."

"He didn't have that much to drink," Ryoko said tersely, shaking Katsuhito's hand from her shoulder. 'And I didn't him that hard either, did I?'

"We need to talk," Katsuhito spoke softly, ushering Ryoko towards his office.

"But I need to see Tenchi!" Ryoko protested, but could not pull free of the deceptively old priest's grip. "Le' go!"

"I'd listen if I were you missy," Washu said taking her daughters other arm.

Ryoko started to look down at her mother, but quickly jerked her head up at the fully-grown Washu. "What is this all about?" she asked, unable to hide the fear in her voice. "What's wrong? Where's Tenchi?" she panicked.

"Nothing a few hours sleep wouldn't fix," Washu elaborated. "So calm down dearie."

"What's the matter?" Ryoko asked again, nearly hyperventilating by now.

Katsuhito chuckled softly at Ryoko's genuine concern. "Just calm down and we will explain everything…"

___

Tenchi rubbed his temples as he sat on the gray outcropping in front of Ryoko's grotto. His head was throbbing and the sharp sting where he had been slapped on his right cheek had faded to a dull ache. Everything that had happened in the past several hours seemed like the events of a lifetime, several lifetimes in fact. Ever since his grandfather had deposited him there, all he could do is wonder why; why all of this had happened the way it did.

'How could have I been so foolish,' he pondered. 'I was hurting her so badly…gods…how could I have been so cruel…but I did not know…' Supplanting that thought was a line of anger. His anger came over finding that a part of his childhood had been taken from his memory. Taken by a damnable planet adorned with a crown of lies he never knew existed until four years ago. It was taken because he was too close to the thing they feared the most. Hated the most. The thing he had come to love the most.

Tenchi thought his life was forfeit when she emerged from a dimensional tunnel, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him along. An instant later he landed rather unceremonially in his grandfathers office.

'This will hurt like hell,' Washu had said, connecting an arachnid looking helm to his head. 'And your liable to have the worlds worst hangover in the morning, but you have to know this.'

'I concur,' his grandfather seconded, placing his hand on the helm. 'I only wish I had not let them do it in the first place, but so is the error of the past. Please do not hold this against me or my mother Tenchi, she only did what she thought best at the time.'

Hurt like hell was an understatement as Katsuhito and Washu unlocked his hidden memories with a combination of some form of arcane technology that she had drudged up and his latent Jurai power. But when it was over he saw a past he never knew existed except for fragmented feelings of deja vu.

Tears streaked Tenchi's face as yet another new memory was relived of him spending time with his very real imaginary friend, 'Ry'ko.' She was crying, very much like tonight, and his tiny arms were trying to comfort her ethereal form. "Except she's not here right now…" he mumbled.

Washu had assured him that Ryoko was not going to run off and become a geisha or anything like that, but still she was not here. He so desperately wanted her to be there. 'She will come…' Katsuhito had told him as he vanished back in to the forest path.

So Tenchi sat there, waiting, reliving. Reliving his childhood in wonderful, vivid, heartbreaking detail. It was wonderful because a vagary that had always puzzled him was now filled in its entirety. Everything was experienced in such vivid detail, each distinct sound, word, thought, presence was there as if it happened just then. It was heartbreaking because he knew his feelings for Ryoko ran deeper than those recently discovered; heartbreaking because those feelings about her had been taken from him without his consent; heartbreaking, because he had broken her heart.

"How ya feeling?" a soft voice asked, snapping Tenchi back from his remembrance.

"Ryoko," he croaked, his heart catching in his throat.

"Steady," she said softy, balancing him as he tried to stand. "I think you'd be better off sitting right now."

"Good idea," Tenchi groaned. "I'm so sorry," he atoned, his memories form years gone by intertwining with his hurt filled words of earlier. "I didn't know…" he wept.

"It's ok," Ryoko comforted, holding her own tears back. "Wash- mom and the old man explained everything to me," she sniffed. "I need to apologize as well."

"No you don't," Tenchi lamented.

"At least let me help," she offered, holding a glowing finger the bluing bruise on his cheek. A cold spark leapt to the contusion, eliciting a sharp breath from Tenchi.

"Thank you," he breathed, feeling the warm spot on his cheek where the bruise had been. 'Say it Tenchi! Not everyone gets a second chance like this!'

"Ryoko-"

"Tenchi-" The two of them laughed slightly as they recognized that this was the second time this had happened in as many days.

"I love you," Tenchi breathed, taking the opportunity as it presented himself.

Silent tears of joy streaked Ryoko's face as her heart sang. "I know," she whispered, wiping her tears. "Do you know how long I've waited to hear you say that?"

"Too long," Tenchi said softly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "I'm so sorry Ryoko…I would never hurt you…"

"Tenchi?" she whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Call me 'Ry'ko' again, please?"

Tenchi hesitated momentarily, remembering the pain he had caused her earlier in the night, before he recalled the last time he held her on this spot. "I love you Ry'ko," he said softly, just as he did all those years ago. "I love you."

"I love you too, my Tenchi," she said happily.

Tenchi smirked to himself as he shifted around to look her in the eyes. "I love you," he repeated, lacing his fingers through hers. "My Ryoko…my Ry'ko." Countless tears of joys streaked both their faces as Tenchi leaned in touched his lips to hers. The touch was feather soft at first, neither wanting to spoil the moment. Inhaling softly, Ryoko parted her lips allowing Tenchi to take the lead if he wanted. Tenchi slipped his tongue across her lips at the invite, and traced the front of her fangs before she opened her mouth fully to him. Eternity stood still at that moment. Two hearts, long since separated, finally beat as one.

____

Tenchi bowed and clapped three times out of habit before he knocked on the door to first dimension of Washu's laboratory. Each time he entered the lab he could not shake the feeling of dread and despair that seemed to wash over him. Satisfied that that gods would protect him, Tenchi pushed the door open at Washu's beckoning.

This upper dimension of the lab resembled a lively arboretum, its serenity belying the horror of the deeper sections, especially when Washu needed a sample or other analysis from one of her 'guinea pigs'. "What can I do for ya?" Washu asked, never glancing up from her holographic computer. "Come to give me a sample my wittle guinea piggie?" Tenchi immediately swallowed hard and took a step backwards before Washu let out a maniacal cackle. "I'm just teasing you," she admitted.

"Okay," Tenchi sighed, not entirely sure if he should trust her or not. 'No reason not to…' he reasoned. Clearing his throat, Tenchi stepped forward. "Can I ask you something Little Washu?"

"Fire away," Washu said, cocking an interested eyebrow.

"About the other night," Tenchi began, pacing the floor. "How…what I mean is…when you…"

"How did I know about your memories of Ryoko?" Washu interjected, swinging her legs around on her floating cushion so that she was facing Tenchi. 'I see what my daughter loves about him,' she thought, studying his features. 'My little guinea pig isn't so little any more,' she laughed to herself.

"Um yeah," Tenchi said sheepishly. "I thought I was a goner when you stepped out of that tunnel next to me the other night."

"And for making my little Ryoko cry you should have been!" Washu chastised sternly. "Lucky for you I was paying more attention than that?"

"More attention?" Tenchi asked, wondering just what other invasions of privacy took place in and around his home now.

"I was watching the whole sha-bang," Washu said, absently punching a few keys on her keyboard. A window blinked into view and a freeze frame of Tenchi holding the side of his face from the night before filled the screen. "Much better than my soaps," she kidded to a rosy blush from her daughter's suitor. "I was getting pretty riled up at you," she continued, "anyone who breaks my little Ryoko cry like that usually wakes up in another dimension, if they wake up at all."

"So what spared me?" Tenchi croaked, realizing how close he was becoming an inter-dimensional traveler.

"This," Washu stated. Two graphs appeared on the screen, each showing a series of wavelengths. "When you called Ryoko that cute pet name of yours, certain memory engrams would spike," she said pointing at jumps in the graph. "Lucky for you my equipment was monitoring your engrams as well. I saw you possessed the same engrams that were flaring in Ryoko. The kicker was that something was preventing them from spiking like hers."

"Uh-huh," Tenchi said, scratching the back of his head. "My memories were starting to peek through then?"

"Probably in the form of dreams or deja vu," Washu stated. "I knew that you would never intentionally hurt Ryoko," she continued, "and it did strike me as odd that a simple contraction of her name would set her off so, unless it held some significance."

"It does," Tenchi said with a dreamy smile.

"Enough of that lover boy," Washu said with a sardonic smirk. "You can save all the kissie face stuff for my little 'Ry'ko'!"

"Eh…um…hehe," Tenchi fidgeted, trying to keep his blush under check.

"Tenchi," Washu said, her playfully demeanor suddenly serious.

"Yes Little Washu?"

"I know I'm not the most gracious person in the house, but thank you."

Tenchi blinked a time or two. "Whatever for?"

"For making my daughter happier than she's ever been."

"She deserves more than I can give her," Tenchi said honestly. "Much more."

"But you have given her so much," Washu said, fighting the tears forming in her eyes. "You believed in her when others didn't. You accepted her when others still saw 'Space Pirate Ryoko'. You saw the real person beneath all the gruff and put-ons. You…"

Tenchi stepped forward and drew Washu into a hug as she tried to stymie her tears. "It's okay," Tenchi said. "I know the real Ryoko. I fell in love with her a long time ago, and didn't realize it till now."

"Always the sentimentalist," Washu chuckled.

"I guess so," Tenchi laughed. "Thank you for giving me my childhood back," h said as he turned to leave.

"Oh Tennnnnchi," Washu said coyly.

"Yes Little Wa…" Tenchi began to answer before he found himself eye level with an adult Washu's cleavage. "…shu…"

"Such a naughty boy," Washu teased, wrapping her arms around Tenchi in another hug, pressing his face further into her bosom. "Such a naughty boy!"

"Washu please!" Tenchi begged, although somewhat muffled.

"All right," Washu laughed. "I shouldn't do that to you now seeing as you're spoken for."

"Thank you," Tenchi said with a pant, making tracks towards the door.

"He's still Tenchi," Washu laughed as the lab door slammed with a resounding thud.

"Lord Tenchi?" Ayeka asked as Tenchi slid down the broom closet door to the floor. "Are you all right?" All the flabbergasted prince could do was nod. "I take it Washu was up to her old tricks?" One more nod. "You would think someone of her age would grow up a little."

"She did," Tenchi panted.

"I see," Ayeka giggled. 'Or more like what Tenchi saw, and knowing Washu, no telling how much!' Ayeka smirked as she rounded the corner of the couch to help Tenchi to his feet. 'At least Ryoko comes by her immodesty naturally.'

"And you wonder why I hate that place," Tenchi huffed as Ayeka helped him to his feet. "I'll have nightmares about that for a week now."

Ayeka tittered. "So what are your plans for the evening Lord Tenchi?" she asked.

"I don't know," he answered. "Probably just sit around here and watch TV."

Ayeka frowned. "Why do you not take Ryoko out for dinner?"

"What about the rest of you?" Tenchi asked.

'He's still the same Tenchi…' Ayeka sighed inwardly. "We will manage without you some how," she said sarcastically. "Ryoko would enjoy it, and the two of you need to go out together."

"Okay," Tenchi laughed. "I get the point."

"So where are we going?" Ryoko asked as she clicked her seatbelt in place and adjusted the seatback of the little green Mazda.

"I know of this restaurant in Kurashiki," Tenchi said as he backed out of the small carport shed and pulled around to the drive. "The food is good, and they serve a little bit of everything."

"Mind if I play with the radio?" she asked, reaching for the dial.

"Go ahead," Tenchi said. Ryoko settled a pop station and wriggled her bottom in the seat cushion, making herself comfortable for the hour or so long ride. Tenchi would catch himself glancing up to the review mirror to steal glances of her in the passengers seat. She had on a cream-colored blouse and slate gray slacks. 'She is so beautiful,' he thought as Ryoko reached up and adjusted the sun visor to her liking. Tenchi smiled as Ryoko watched the countryside pass by. She seemed so calm and relaxed. 'So serene,' he thought as his mind began to wander. The whine of rubber on the low shoulder brought him back to reality quickly though. Tenchi bolted up straight as he quickly jerked the front tire back onto the pavement.

"It's okay," Ryoko soothed, as Tenchi remained rigid against the seatback. "Breathe big boy," she playfully teased.

"I'm so sorry," Tenchi atoned, his knuckles white as he locked his grip in on the wheel. "I am so sorry Ryoko…I didn't mean to…I'm sorry…"

"I said it's all right," she said softly, placing a hand on his leg and giving it a squeeze. Ryoko's ears twitched as she picked up the speedy thump of his heart racing. 'How can I calm him?' she reflected. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Tenchi breathed, not too convincingly.

"We're fine," Ryoko said, giving his leg a squeeze again.

Tenchi blushed at the near intimate contact from the buxom woman sitting across from him. Calming his breathing, he tried to keep his eyes on the road, and the car. But the thought of Ryoko with her hand on his leg kept sneaking into his mind. He was too tense to glance over at her, to see if she had noticed the flush of his cheeks or not. 'If she keeps this up she will notice something else…' he worried.

'At least he's calmed down,' Ryoko thought as the sun began to dip behind the mountains. 'He is so adorable when he's like that at times, but he doesn't know when to stop. He has to learn to relax more…' Her thoughts abruptly stopped as fingertips brushed up against a burgeoning bulge in Tenchi's trousers. Tenchi's sharp inhale echoed in her ears along with the increase in his heart rate again. Casting a sideways glance at the rearview mirror, Ryoko saw the deep hue of crimson his face was turning. As much as she wanted to explore further, Ryoko slid her hand back up to his knee and gave it a firm squeeze.

"Sorry," she said softly.

"It's okay," Tenchi said in one breath. "I just have to get used to things like that."

"So what movie do you want to see?" Ryoko asked, changing the subject and trying to keep the conversation from dying down again. They still had a good half hour to go by her count, and she did not want things to be too quite.

"Good question," Tenchi said, sneaking a glance in the mirror once again. For once Ryoko had dressed somewhat conservatively, which only made him want what he could not see even more. 'Maybe that's for the best right now,' he concluded, remembering what happened last time he studied her too closely. "I know there's few new anime's and martial art flick's out."

"Maybe the anime," Ryoko answered. "I've seen too many Kung-fu movies here lately. Mihoshi made us sit through a week long marathon while you were at school."

"I think I saw most of that one too," Tenchi laughed. "We all crashed at Hisashi and Toka's place since they have a bigger TV and better cable than we have in the dorms."

"I'd like to meet those two one day," Ryoko laughed. "They sound like a matched pair."

"They are," Tenchi chuckled, thinking of some of their antics. 'I hope we have a relationship as good as theirs.' Tenchi smiled as Ryoko squeezed his knee again. 'No, I hope we have a one better than theirs…'

"So what should we see?" Tenchi asked as he and Ryoko stared up at the neon marquee. Dinner had gone well, and the walk from the restaurant had been pleasant in the warm night air.

"'Lord of the Rings' looks good to me," Ryoko said as she pulled closer to Tenchi's arm.

"I read a portion of one of the books in my international literature class," Tenchi said as he ordered up the tickets. "It was very good."

"As long as you're here," Ryoko cooed, "I will like it."

Tenchi smiled to himself as the doorman took their tickets and ushered them inside. The theaters air conditioning felt delightful compared to the night's warmth. "Want something to drink?" he offered as they stopped at the concession counter.

"I'll take an Asahi," Ryoko answered with a bit of a yawn.

"Two Asahi's," Tenchi ordered. "Come on," he prodded, holding both drinks, "it's nearly show time."

"Uh-huh," Ryoko nodded, taking a sip from her cup. "Let's sit in the back," she suggested as they began to climb the terraced tread in the theater.

"Okay," Tenchi smiled. A few seconds later they were situated right in front of the projection room. After squirming for a few moments, Tenchi slid the armrest between him and Ryoko up, effectively making their two seats one. After hesitating for a moment, Tenchi slid his arm around Ryoko's shoulders. To his delight she did not hesitate in leaning back against him. "Comfy?" he asked quietly, to which Ryoko purred in confirmation.

After shifting his weight so that he could wrap both arms around Ryoko, Tenchi sighed contentedly. He had often as of late imagined what this exact moment would feel like, and to be finally living it was blissful. Ryoko felt so warm in his arms, and the spicy scent of her perfume was nearly enough to drive him wild. His attention was divided between the saga of Middle Earth and the beauty in his arms, which to him even the fairest elf paled. Tenchi's eyes were drawn to a glint from Ryoko's. Her catlike orbs were luminescent in the theaters dim light, which bathed her skin a pale, blue glow.

Not a word was spoken as he leaned forward and kissed her. As their tongues explored one another's mouth, Tenchi felt Ryoko's fingers run through the back of his hair, pushing him closer to her. At the same time his hand smoothed down her side and across her stomach before coming to rest on her knee. Ryoko moaned happily as he squeezed her knee, before he began to explore his way back up her body. She deepened the kiss when Tenchi pressed down on her taught abs, before he ever so slowly inching his hand back up her torso. After hesitating for a moment, Tenchi reached up and cupped Ryoko's breast through her shirt.

Tenchi momentarily broke the kiss to see Ryoko's reaction to his brazen move, if any. "I love you," she said softly.

"I love you too," he whispered before leaning back into the kiss.

Tenchi watched Ryoko in the rearview mirror again as the lights of Kurashiki faded behind them. She was dozing with her head leaned up against the window, splaying her cyan hair in what Tenchi thought was the most adorable mess. A soft half snore, half purr escaped Ryoko as she shifted in the car seat. Tenchi could feel his smile broaden as he stole yet another glimpse of Ryoko. His Ryoko. 'I can't believe I'm finally saying that,' he thought as a pair of headlights whizzed by.

The impressions of her lips on his lingered in his mind, as he recalled the watching the movie, or better their attempt at watching a movie. And the fact he was actually brave enough to sneak a feel of her body without her prodding him along like she used to do amazed him. 'Used to do…' Tenchi thought. 'She hasn't blatantly come onto me like that since the other night, and now that I think of it, she hasn't done that too much since I've been home either. Maybe I wasn't the only one who grew up over the past year.' Tenchi laughed at himself, remembering how just a few months back the thought of caressing Ryoko's body, much less making out with her during a movie was as alien as the beauty sitting next to him.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Ryoko asked, turning around so that her head rested on the seatback. 'He is so handsome,' she thought as Tenchi was illuminated by a set of oncoming headlamps.

"About tonight," Tenchi said honestly. "I had a wonderful time."

"I enjoyed the movie," Ryoko said demurely. "A lot."

"So did I," Tenchi said with a small chuckle and a beaming smile. 'Not that I saw much of the movie…'

"I don't want this night to end," Ryoko sighed as Tenchi opened the car door for her.

"I know," Tenchi said softly. "May I walk you to the door?"

"Uh-huh," Ryoko said softly with a giggle, taking his arm and leaning her head on his shoulder. "I had so much fun," she cooed.

"We'll have to do it again," Tenchi said, guiding her towards the flagstone path from the carport shed.

"I'd like that."

"So would I," Tenchi said with a smile.

"Tenchi?" Ryoko asked, as they stopped at the doorstep. "What's the matter?"

"Well…" Tenchi fidgeted, "this may seem odd, seeing as we live in the same house…"

"Yes?"

"It's a tradition to give the girl a good night kiss…"

"I think that's a good tradition," Ryoko purred as she twisted around to face him.

"So do I," Tenchi breathed before leaning into Ryoko's embrace.

Ayeka glanced at the old station clock hanging on the wall. "Where could they be?" she said the worry ringing true in her voice. The antique, which did not keep the most accurate time in the universe, was one of her brothers' favorites. And judging from its patina hands, she had heard Tenchi and Ryoko drive up nearly twenty minutes ago.

"I heard them drive up," Sasami yawned.

"I hope nothing happened to them," Ayeka worried, while even worse thoughts tried to creep into her mind.

"I doubt it," Washu said with a mocking grin. "The house isn't that far from the carport."

"I'm going to look for them," Ayeka said. Sasami and Washu just shrugged as the worried princess laid her book on the coffee table and slipped her feet into her slippers. 'I hope nothing as happened to them…it can be dangerous out at night…'

Ayeka stopped in her tracks as she opened the front door. To her surprise Tenchi and Ryoko were in the midst of a rather heated and passionate embrace. A flush quickly rose to her cheeks at the sight, but she fought the urge to break up the display of affection between her former rival and would-be suitor. Quietly, Ayeka closed the door, not to disturb her friends. Old feelings not quite dead yet began to bubble up inside her, but Ayeka could not fault either of them. 'I'm glad that they are finally happy together but still…' Her only tinge of regret was that is was not her in Tenchi's arms right now.

"Are they all right?" Sasami asked, seeing the somewhat melancholy expression her sister was wearing.

"I'd say there just fine, right?" Washu asked.

Ayeka cracked a small smile and nodded. "That they are."

"Well they need to hurry up!" Sasami chirped. "I want to know how everything went! I bet it was so romantic!" With that she hopped down from the couch and headed towards the door.

"Now Sasami!" Ayeka said quickly as her sister sped away, being trailed by a bounding cabbit. "Do not…bother them…" she warned as she heard the door creak open then be promptly shut.

"Eeewww!" Sasami whined, screwing her face into the most adorable scrunch, which Ryo-ohki mimicked with a 'Miya!'

"I said do not bother them," Ayeka admonished in a hushed tone.

"I doubt she bothered them," Washu laughed, taking a peek from behind the wooden window blinds.

"Miss Washu!" Ayeka admonished tersely. "Respect their privacy!"

"Those two?" Washu laughed, sauntering towards the door. She peeked out at the sight of her daughter entwined with Tenchi under the porch light. "I don't think a Terrellian wombat in labor could bother them!" she laughed opening and slamming the door a few times. "See?"

"Miss Washu!" Ayeka squeaked as she shooed the pint-sized scientist back to the den. "I cannot believe the two of you!" she reproached.

"That's gross," Sasami said, peeking from behind the blinds.

"Get over here right now young lady!" Ayeka scolded.

"All right…"Sasami whined.

"Miiiiiiya…." Ryo-ohki added as she padded along behind Sasami.

"I have the whole night on tape if you want to watch…" Washu whispered to Sasami.

"Really!" Sasami squeaked, her eyes sparkling.

"Absolutely not!" Ayeka protested. "I'm ashamed of the both of you," she scolded.

"Okay, okay," Washu cackled.

"Awe…" Sasami moaned to a stern look from Ayeka. "I mean that's not nice Miss Washu."

"Traitor," Washu accused, as she turned her attention from fuming elder and the giggling younger princess' back to the television.

Ayeka was about to say something in admonition when they heard the door creak open then quietly close a few seconds later. Everything became deathly still as Tenchi and Ryoko strode hand in hand into the hall besides the living room.

"Hi guys," Tenchi said sheepishly as Washu and Sasami gave him and Ryoko the largest cat-like grins.

"Yeah," Ryoko seconded, not even wanting to know Washu was thinking behind that grin at the moment.

"Did you have a good evening?" Ayeka asked politely.

"I'd say they did!" Washu whispered to Sasami who just giggled.

"So how was dinner?" Ayeka asked after glancing back towards to Sasami and Washu.

"It was nice," Ryoko said as she and Tenchi took a seat across from everyone on the smaller sofa. 'What?' she mouthed at Washu who was running her hands through her hair and tugging at her shirt collar.

"Was it windy tonight?" Sasami asked innocently.

"Not really," Tenchi answered. "Why do you ask Sasami?"

"It's just that your hair looks like it was really windy tonight," she answered. "That's all."

Tenchi and Ryoko paled as they cast sideways glances at each other and saw just how disheveled they were. "It was very windy," Ryoko covered as she finally caught the gist of Washu's monkeyshines and straightened her shirt and hair.

"It was," Tenchi tried to laugh, but wind couldn't explain his shirt being un-tucked nor the lipstick he saw on his fingers after tucking part of his tussled plait back behind his ear. "Well," Tenchi said with a stretch, "I'm worn out. Grandpa had me do a lot at the shrine today."

"And I need a good soak in the onsen," Ryoko seconded. After exchanging another glance Tenchi rose and headed for the stairs as Ryoko phased from sight with a chime.

"Those two," Ayeka said, trying her best not to giggle.

"They are a pair," Washu laughed.

____

"Cut that out," Tenchi laughed as Ryoko goosed her fingers up his side.

"Make me!" the pirate threatened, holding a wooden spoon like her energy saber. "I said stay back!" she giggled as Tenchi defiantly stepped forward. "Don't make me!"

"Make you do what?" he asked, stepping closer.

"This," Ryoko breathed before she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Oh wow I'm tired," Mihoshi whined as she slid back the portico door leading to the kitchen landing. She had been on patrol for two weeks straight, caught four space criminals, missed the end of Excel Saga, and had botched her landing again. Her socks sloshed as she dripped across the hall. "I hope Washu won't be mad at me when I ask her to dry out Yukonojo again..." she mumbled as she rounded the corner and saw Tenchi and Ryoko kissing. After blinking absently for a moment, Mihoshi carried on towards the first floor bath, when the image she had just seen registered on her. Back stepping to where she could crane her neck around the corner with out being noticed, she double-checked to just make sure she really did see Tenchi and Ryoko kissing, but they were not there.

"How strange," she mumbled, not quite sure what to make of things.

"What's strange?" Ayeka asked, trying not to laugh at the look of utter confusion that blanketed Mihoshi's face.

"Its that…w-what I mean is…I think I…it could have been…" the blonde officer stammered, trying to decide just how to tell Ayeka that she saw Tenchi and Ryoko kissing without breaking her heart.

"Spit it out dear," Ayeka said with a laugh.

"Well…" Mihoshi fidgeted. "Promise not to be mad?"

"I promise," Ayeka swore. 'Anything to find out what she's babbling about.'

"I saw Tenchi and Ryoko kissing," Mihoshi squeaked out, hanging her head in shame.

"Oh," Ayeka said quietly, a slight blush creeping across her cheeks.

"You're not mad?" Mihoshi asked, peeking out of one eye after a second of expecting Ayeka to be livid.

"Well," Ayeka began slowly, "it is what two people do when they are courting…"

"Oh…" Mihoshi said blinking a time or two. "Uh, did I miss something Ayeka?"

Ayeka laughed to herself as she realized Mihoshi had left for patrol a few days before this had all begun. 'She does not know…' Escorting the dripping blonde to the sofa, Ayeka walked Mihoshi through the events of the past fortnight. Ayeka watched intently as Mihoshi digested the story.

"And you're not mad?" Mihoshi asked quietly.

Ayeka bit her bottom lip at the question. "I am happy for them," she began, with a heavy sigh. "But it does hurt," she admitted. "I wanted Tenchi for so long, and to see her in his arms is more than I can handle at times. But I know that being angry with them would not be fair to them or me." Mihoshi nodded quietly as Ayeka wiped an errant tear. "I was scared, Mihoshi," she confessed. "I was scared at first that I would not have a place here any more. But that was unfounded. I know Tenchi does not return my feelings, but he does love me, and that was of the greatest comfort."

"So you're okay?" Mihoshi asked solemnly.

"I am okay as I can be," Ayeka said. "It still hurts, but each day it hurts less. I have a wonderful family, and just because I did not win Tenchi's heart, I did not lose my family. And that's what is important."

"It'll be all right," Mihoshi sniffed as she gave Ayeka a rather soggy hug.

"I know it will be," the princess admitted, returning the embrace. "I know it will be."

___

Katsuhito cracked a small smile as he peered through the corner of the window blinds in his office. In the past month and a half since his grandson finally followed his heart he had quietly watched the romance between his heir and the former demoness grow. He was also proud of how they had been acting around Ayeka. He knew his sister went out of her way to give the couple as much privacy as possible, if for anything to spare her own feelings. But it was how Tenchi and Ryoko did little things, that made let Ayeka know she was loved, and still very much part of this family that truly struck him.

Katsuhito allowed his smile to momentarily dip into a frown. He partly blamed himself for Ayeka's anguish on many fronts. He knew full well the consequences of leaving Jurai all those years ago, and even more so when he decided to stay on earth after Tsunami had granted him that vision. What he could not have predicted was his sister being drawn into his family again. 'If I had stood my ground,' he reflected, 'and not allowed mother to block Tenchi's memories of Ryoko, Ayeka would have been spared this heartbreak. I only pray she will forgive me one day for my part in these events.'

The elder priest chuckled as he watched the pattern Tenchi was sweeping move steadily closer to Ryoko. Before long he was shoulder-to-shoulder with her, and not long after that had stolen a kiss from her cheek. Katsuhito smiled to himself as Ryoko repeated Tenchi's tactics, but instead of a kiss on the cheek she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. His smile quickly faded as Tenchi returned the embrace, and the kiss became more heated.

With a loud clack that caused both of his amorous wards to jump, Katsuhito slid back the rice paper door to his office. "That is enough you two," he said sternly. "This is a place of solemn worship, not a romantic hideaway."

"Sorry Sensei," they atoned together.

"Now Ryoko," Katsuhito ordered, slowly treading the steps down from his office. "I need you to finish around the gate," he said motioning towards the torii. "And Tenchi," he said sternly, turning to face his ward. "I need for you to fetch the bucket of red paint and a brush from the shed. The lattice work on the office needs touching up."

"Yes sir," Tenchi nodded, casting a wistful sideways glance towards Ryoko.

"I'll be watching you two," Katsuhito announced as he slid the door to his office shut behind him.

Tenchi smiled warmly as Ryoko gave him a mock pout. "Knock it off," he said with a laugh as she slowly floated towards the torii. Ryoko could be so precious at times, and that little mock pout held a lot of sway over him. But he knew that every member of the family had caught them like that so far. In fact, it had become a running joke, especially with Sasami. Whenever some one would ask where the pair had sneaked off-to, she would scrunch her face in mock disgust. That is that is needed to tell whomever asked what was going on.

Tenchi squinted in the dim light of the shed as he began to rummage for the old coffee tin that the paint brushes were kept in. "Where is it?" he mumbled. "It's got to be here somewhere…"

"I'm right here…" a soft voice purred into his ear as he felt a pair of slender arms wrap around his chest from behind.

"Ryoko!" he said in a hushed tone, spinning around to look her in the eyes. "Grandpa said for you to stay at the shrine!" he said, looking around for the aforementioned priest.

"I am," she said coyly. "Or at least a double is…"

Tenchi smiled, as he understood what Ryoko meant. He had seen her split in two or three doppelgangers a time or two before. "I see…" he whispered as he drew her into an embrace. "Where did we leave off…" he asked, leaning into another kiss.

"Right here…" Ryoko whispered, taking his lead.

"Uh-huh," Tenchi mumbled as he backed into the set of shelves sending a few containers and tins falling to the floor, scattering their contents including the paint brushes including the previously sought after paint brushes. Tenchi slid his hands down Ryoko's back as she pulled him closer to her. A giggle escaped her lips as he squeezed her buttocks through the wool of her hakama.

"I love you," Ryoko whispered as Tenchi slowly nibbled on her earlobe. "Hmmmm…" Ryoko let go with a cat like purr. "I could take us back to the house," she proffered, hoping that Tenchi would consent. "We could have a little more privacy and maybe…" she added in a sultry tone.

Tenchi swallowed hard in an attempt to keep his will power intact. "I want to," he said between kisses on her neck, "but I…"

"I understand," Ryoko whispered. She knew Tenchi would advance their relationship when the time was right, and she respected that. It was just moments like this drove her wild and tested her will to its limits.

"We should get back before we're missed," Tenchi said, giving her one last kiss on the lips.

"That you should," Katsuhito said with no amusement in his voice.

"Uh-oh," Tenchi sighed as Ryoko laid her forehead on his shoulder.

"We're in it now," she said softly.

"Uh-huh," Tenchi chuckled as Katsuhito marshaled them back to the shrine. The old priest walked two steps behind them, lecturing them on the proper time and places for romantic escapades, thoroughly stressing that a Shinto Shrines storage shed was not one such place.

"Now the work will go faster," Katsuhito laughed, seeing the look of dismay on the doppelganger Ryoko's face as the original was marched back into the shrine yard. "The two of you can finish the yard work while Tenchi scrapes and paints this lattice work."

"Yes Sensei…" all three of the said in unison. Tenchi couldn't help but watch as the two Ryoko's continued with the yard work. The thought of two Ryoko's was more than enough to make him blush, especially when the thought of the both of them in bed would sneak into his mind. 'Don't start that,' he chided himself. 'You're not ready to do that with one Ryoko let alone two at once…but still…'

"You're blushing redder than that paint, my son," Katsuhito laughed from his perch on the shrine steps. "Let the rigors of honest work purify you soul," the sage priest instructed. "An that goes for you as well, ladies," he added looking up at the twin Ryoko's who had begun to slack off a bit.

"But we're tired!" they whined in sync. "Ten-n-n-n-n-n-chi-i-i-i-i!" they begged in harmony. "Please make the old man stop!"

"Why me?" Tenchi whimpered as his Ryokos kept pleading.

"I guess the three of you may go," Katsuhito laughed. "But let this be a lesson well learned." Tenchi and the Ryokos nodded in agreement. "Because," he said looking at Ryoko who had begun to stick their tongues out at him, "I can always use more help up here."

"Yes sir…" they said in defeat.

"Come on," Tenchi said after shaking out the paintbrush in turpentine. "Lets go home."

"Ten-n-n-chi," the two Ryokos said sang as they floated up behind him. "We're tired…will you carry us home?"

Tenchi shot a worried glance towards his grandfather who have him a hentai-ish grin. "My grandson," he said stoically, "you are on your own." With that he vanished back into the office.

"Okay," Tenchi agreed after a moments hesitation, praying that his back would survive the descent down the stairs."

The two Ryokos squealed in delight as they wrapped their arms around Tenchi's neck and nuzzled up against his shoulders. "This is the only way I'll ever let you have a threesome," they purred into each ear. Tenchi just swallowed hard and blushed.

___

The pitter-patter of soft raindrops pelted the tile roof as Tenchi and Ryoko sat on the sofa watching television. The first of August had brought late summer rains, and the pair was enjoying a day to themselves. The house almost seemed too quiet. Ayeka and Mihoshi had accompanied Sasami to the market, and Washu was up to her usual self-exile in the lab. The only sound was the rainfall on the roof and the low volume of the television set.

Ryoko sighed contentedly as she adjusted the lay of her head on Tenchi's shoulder. "I saw that picture you drew of Ayeka a while back," she said softly.

"You did?" Tenchi asked, placing his arm around her shoulders.

"Uh-huh. It's very good."

"Thank you."

"Tenchi?" Ryoko asked in a small voice.

"Yes?"

"Will you draw me?"

Tenchi started to answer, but hesitated. He had already drawn Ryoko, based off his fantasies of her. His first fantasy in fact. That was his comfort zone, a place he could drift back to from time to time and dream safely. Selfishly, it was a place he wanted to keep to himself. That, and he knew how much Ayeka cherished being the only one who had a portrait drawn by him.

"What's the matter?" Ryoko asked, noting the look of disquiet on Tenchi's face.

"Nothing," Tenchi sighed. "Do you really want me to draw you?"

"Of course I do, silly," she teased.

"It's just that I think that picture gives Ayeka some level of comfort," he said, scooting around so that he was facing her. "Kind of like a little piece of me that she can claim for herself."

"Well you're a dreamer if you think I'm going to share you like that," Ryoko said flatly.

"I don't," he said, drawing her into a hug. 'Should I show her the picture?' he pondered. "I am yours and only yours," he assured her.

"I love you," she purred into his ear.

"I love you too," he said stroking her back.

"So you will draw me?" she said, oh so sweetly.

"When it's not raining," he consented.

"Why not now?" Ryoko asked, tracing her fingers up his side. "Come on!" she giggled, as the trace turned into a goose.

"Stop that!" Tenchi laughed, returning her tickles. Before long they were swatting at each other in vain attempts to keep the other from tickling.

"You stop!" Ryoko laughed as Tenchi pinned her hands down and goosed her one handed.

"You started it!" he panted as she twisted free and lunged for him. The two of them fell back onto the floor with a resounding thud.

"You okay?" Ryoko asked as Tenchi regained his wind.

"Yeah," he breathed.

"Good…" she whispered softly, leaning into a kiss. Very quickly things became heated as Tenchi slipped his hands under Ryoko's shirt. His hands explored her back and sides until his thumbs came to rest under her breasts. Deepening the kiss as Ryoko pressed her midsection down onto his crotch, Tenchi slipped his thumbs under her bra, allowing her to spill out into his reach.

Ryoko leaned up a little to give him better access. She moaned softly as his thumbs caressed her pert nipples. The look in their eyes spoke volumes. Each seemed to tell the other that they were ready. Sensing this, Ryoko slid her legs down so that she was straddling her love. She could feel his arousal well now, and she was sure he could feel her warmth through her jeans.

Taking the initiative Tenchi reached forward and loosed the button on her jeans and slid the fly down, revealing the black fabric of her underwear. "I want you," he said softly, toying with the elastic band.

"And I want you too," she said with a feral grin, showing more than a hint of fang. "Badly."

"Uh-huh," Tenchi moaned as she began to grind her hips into his crotch. Too much more of this, and Tenchi believed he would likely have an accident. "Should we go some where more private?"

"I'm happy here," Ryoko purred, on a down grind that made Tenchi inhale sharply. "Here and now."

"Uh-huh," Tenchi said, pulling her back down into another kiss.

"Is that all you can say?" she teased, pulling away from him.

"Uh-huh," he said with a playful grin.

"Oh you!" she growled. Ryoko slowly, teasingly, traced kisses down from his lips to the collar of his shirt. She wanted him so badly, and finally he was ready for her. The thought sent electric chills down her spine. Every so carefully, she began to loose his belt and unfasten the buttons on the fly of his slacks. Both of them shared a glance as the intimacy of the moment fully weighed upon them. After so many years, so many intrigues and rivalries, she was going to finally consummate her love for Tenchi.

Then the phone rang.

"Dammit!" Ryoko growled as Tenchi let out a deflated sigh. "That's not fair," she pouted, collapsing onto his chest.

"I guess I should get that," Tenchi said rather reluctantly.

"If that's Ayeka calling to check on us…" Ryoko growled.

"Masaki residence," Tenchi said catching the phone on the last ring before the answering machine picked up.

"Tenchi!" came the excited voice from across the line.

"Hisashi!" Tenchi said with a smile. "What's going on?"

"Nothing much. Just relaxing here with Toka before class starts back in a few weeks."

"How is she?" Tenchi asked before placing his hand on the receiver. "It's my friends Hisashi and Toka," he whispered to Ryoko.

"Lemme have the phone!" Tenchi heard as Toka took the phone from Hisashi. "That girl still isn't waiting on you, is she?" Toka asked.

Tenchi chuckled as he heard Hisashi protest loudly in the background. "No," Tenchi said with a smile, "she's not. In fact Ryoko is here right now."

"Good boy. Here's Hisashi back."

"I'm so sorry," Hisashi apologized.

"No problem Tenchi laughed.

"Anyway, let me get the point. Toka and I want you and Ryoko to come to Hawaii next week. You know, a little vacation before class starts back. Can you do that?"

"I don't see why not," Tenchi said with a smile.

"Good. I'll have my dad's company arrange the travel," Hisashi said happily. "I'll email you the details. Take care!"

"You too," Tenchi replied.

"What did they want?" Ryoko asked curiously as Tenchi replaced the receiver.

"Oh, nothing much," he said drably.

"Oh."

"You don't have any plans for next week do you?" he asked knowing full well the answer.

"Why?" she said with a coy grin.

"Oh, we were just invited to spend a week with Hisashi and Toka in Hawaii. Do you want to go?"

"With you," Ryoko said, wrapping her arms around Tenchi's neck, "I would go anywhere…especially Hawaii."

"It's set then," Tenchi laughed. "Hawaii, here we come."

To be concluded…in 'Paint the Sky.'

Notes:

There you have it folks. Chapter five is finished, and chapter six shall conclude this tale. Just to let you know, the second half of this chapter was intended as a montage to show Tenchi and Ryoko's relationship grow, covering the span of about a month and a half. My deepest thanks go out to my online friends who helped with this chapter. Ya'll put up with a lot from me, and I am eternally grateful. Ya'll are truly the best. And to the readers, ya'll are the best readers an author can have. Your reviews and emails have been sincerely appreciated. Thank you again. So, one more chapter to go. See you then.

William 'Thundergod' Nichols