Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction ❯ Lyrics to a Love Story ❯ Want you, miss you, love you ( Chapter 5 )

Everything had been gathered. He was finally on his way, on his way to abdicate the throne and to prove his love for Ryoko. Even now it seemed slightly ridiculous to him that he had to prove his love for her to anyone besides her. But when dealing with the Jurain Empire, he figured better safe than sorry.

Sighing Tenchi wandered around the large and spacious accommodations that were to be his domicile for the next few weeks. Or at least however long it took for him to complete the tasks required for abdication. Looking around absently with eyes that weren't focusing on what was before him Tenchi's heart constricted as his eyes settled on the tiny picture of Ryoko. It had been taken when she was still recovering from her merger with Zero and in it she wore the pink and white gown that had become his favorite. She rarely wore it except for on special occasions and its presence made any event all the more significant. She was blushing faintly in the picture; it was Washu's going away gift to him. He had to smile; she looked so adorable in the picture, just as he had always imagined her; innocent and sweet.

Want you, miss you

Love you I do.

Reaching out Tenchi gathered the picture and lovingly placed a gentle kiss to it. He would do this for her, to be with her. His love flared in his heart and he felt the tears of loss sting at his eyes. Swallowing down the urge to cry, Tenchi refused to allow himself to wallow in self pity. He shared a link with her; she would forever be no further than a thought away. Closing his eyes Tenchi concentrated on that faint, cyan/silver strand that was the consciousness of Ryoko. It pulled him like a siren's call; beckoning to his heart and pleading to his soul. He felt her love for him, pour into his soul, her very essence suffusing him and wrapping around his heart. Slowly he pulled away from his link to her and returned to his body. Instantly longing to return, everything seemed infinitely colder now, without her soul to comfort him.

Never want to be, this far from you again.

Tenchi turned longing eyes back to his rapidly disappearing home. As the house dissolved into the surrounding forest, which became lost in the countryside of his home, which in turn was lost within the borders and boundaries of the island nation of his homeland Tenchi felt the familiar longing stir within his heart. His hands itched again with the need to feel her skin, to hold her and to caress her fears and doubts away.

I long to touch you.

And I need to hold you.

Leaving had been one of the hardest things he could have done. He made quiet good-byes to the family. One by one wishing them well and hoping they would be okay during his absence. His good-bye to Ayeka had been eerily lacking the awkwardness he had been certain would have been present. Shrugging Tenchi could not bring himself to worry too much about it. No, the sole focus for his worries and concerns was Ryoko. She was still asleep when he had left. He had hoped he could have said goodbye to her and have one last look into her eyes.

He had longed for her presence the second he had boarded the lonely yet opulent craft. He watched as the planet that held the woman he loved slowly disappeared amongst the myriad of stars. He would do this. Firming his resolve Tenchi turned away from the window. Looking around Tenchi decided to go to the helm, maybe there he could lose himself with plans and details. At least, enough to distract himself from the biting need for her.

Reaching the helm, Tenchi slumped into the captain's chair. Placing his fingers in the air as if ready to type he waited for the shadow keyboard to appear. And before he had to wait it appeared. Quickly his fingers nimbly typed in the search for information about Juarian abdication ceremonies and rituals. And once the enter button was pressed a thick book popped into existence just above his lap and landed with a breath stealing thud into his lap.

Quickly Tenchi turned his hands to the book and began reading. And the more he read the less he understood. From what he could surmise there hadn't been very many monarchs within Jurai's extensive history, due to their extended life spans. But even amongst the few monarchs the instances of abdication were rare, having only occurred once before his grandfather. Shaking his head Tenchi continued on, trying to decipher the cryptic writing style that hid as much information as it revealed.

"You must know her, for she is your heart, and for this journey to be complete you must know your heart." The words had jumped out at Tenchi as if screaming. He had read the page over and over again trying to understand what its message was and then suddenly the words sprang into his sights, like a neon sign. Shaking his head Tenchi looked down at his watch and realized he had been reading the book for the past 5 hours and he still felt no closer to understanding what was required out of him.

Deciding to indulge is heart; Tenchi rose from the chair and placed the book down. Returning to his room, Tenchi found the picture again. Looking down at the picture lovingly cradled in his hands Tenchi sighed. He could still hear her whispering the words he so longed to hear her say again, on that night so many years ago. That night before he had left for college, she had been wearing that very same white and pink dress. With a star magnolia blossom in her hair, one that had been preserved by Washu for that very evening, Ryoko had finally confessed to him. His eyes closed as his ears shut out the silence and his mind amplified the remembered words. Her husky voice caressed his ears as she repeated the words her heart had demanded finally were voiced.

Beautiful and priceless are these confessed words

Tenchi's mind continued to replay her confession, refusing to move beyond that glorious moment. He couldn't. To remember the rest of that evening, the rest of that moment was to break both her heart and his all over again. Finally as things are wont to do, his lock on that moment slipped and the memory moved to the next second. Looking back at this moment, Tenchi could see himself from outside of his body. The look of startled fear, sending instant daggers of pain into his heart. How could he have ever given her that look? And at Ryoko's stammered apology as she tried to recover her discarded armor and hide the pain of his rejection. Searching around herself absently as if the ground would protect her from her heartache Ryoko, avoided looking at Tenchi. And now, Tenchi recognized the actions for what they were. Back then he had been terrified she was going to kill him in her pained rage. But now, he could see her trying to gather her armor, trying desperately to conceal the pain and longing that were now plain to see in her eyes.

Though I know I'll be back

He longed to return to that moment. To give her the answer he felt in his heart now, to erase the pain and unshed tears shining brightly in her eyes. Smiling softly Tenchi looked at her as she did the one thing that had almost made him realize his true feeling all those years ago. Slowly Ryoko lifted her eyes to the Tenchi before her, gazing at him with a look of longing something crossed her eyes. Then she held him floating slightly so her chin rested on his shoulder. Then with eyes burning into Tenchi as she looked over the shoulder of that past boy, she began to speak. "I know someday, you'll want me to say these words to you again. So I'll say them just one more time." Tenchi felt a mild confusion about his presence outside of the action of the memory.

Baby why am I here now?

But the answer came to him as he watched Ryoko, her eyes blazing with love and devotion, her arms wrapped around the Tenchi her head rested on, while her eyes devastated him Ryoko told him again how much she loved him. The present Tenchi watched with his heart beating wildly in his chest as Ryoko lips formed the words he thought he wouldn't hear again until he returned home. There before him she stood, and he was jealous. Jealous of himself, of the man he no longer was, jealous of the fool that squandered the chance to love her, the chance to love her freely without having to fight for the right to love her.

Want you, miss you

Love you I do.

Jealous that he was not the one wrapped in her arms as she confessed her love. Jealous because he knew she had somehow known he would comeback to this moment and regret his actions. Jealous because he still hadn't told her what his heart longed to say. Jealous because the man wrapped so lovingly in her arms before him, had the chance that he longed for and he knew it was going to be squandered.

Blinded and foolish as I am

Tenchi wanted to beat the man standing stiffly before him that was struggling to fight the urge to wrap his arms around Ryoko and return the pirate's embrace. He wanted to wake the fool he had been so long ago, up and make him realize what he was forsaking. His promise to never forsake any of the girls forgotten in his haste to leave the uncomfortable surroundings, Tenchi had to swallow the bitter taste of remorse as he watched himself push her away.

I promise never to forget

And yet still her eyes remained focused on him. Not his past self, but on his present self. The man he had become and the man he now was, the man that had accepted his love for her. And as Tenchi heard the words his younger, foolish self spoke and he watched the impact of the words settle on Ryoko's delicate face, he suppressed the urge to kill.

What I am going through

Again without the emotional armor she hid behind, Ryoko lifted a delicate hand to his past self's cheek, and told him to remember this moment and to never forget it. To always remember the mistakes of the past, never to repeat them. The entire time her eyes never left Tenchi's eyes. And with a gentle kiss to his past self's cheek and a tearful smile to his present self, she left… disappearing into the night.

I promise never to forget

Tenchi closed his eyes as the memories faded around him and again he was back on the ship. Opening his eyes he could still hear her telling him to never forget, and with a voice raw with emotion, he did. Quietly whispering to the lonely surroundings his reverently spoken promise to never forget what his stupidity had cost him and silently vowing to forever treasure her. Her love, her heart, her soul, her zeal for life, and all the wonderful things that made her the woman he could not live without. He vowed to spend the rest of his and her life loving her.

How much I want you, miss you, love you.

Sighing Tenchi placed the picture down again lovingly and gently settling the fragile frame on the nightstand beside the bed. Gathering his will again Tenchi returned to the book. Sitting down in the captain's seat again, Tenchi began to read again. But this time, with Ryoko's confession still ringing in his ears, the words made sense. The meanings no longer seemed like an elusive riddle but instead instructions. Tenchi became captivated by the books instructions. For his journey he would need to find Destiny's Enforcer, the entity which lost its name to time.

As Tenchi read on, he slowly started to realized that this was not a journey for just him, but for her as well. He would have to return for her. This journey and this decision was not his solely for the making but both of theirs. She had as much say in the outcome of their lives as he did. Smiling as he continued to read Tenchi took the faint joy of returning to Ryoko to heart.

When I find myself in your arms again.

Finally, remembering that the ship would continue on its present course unless directed, Tenchi ordered the computer to return the ship back to the location it had just left. Unable to contain the need in his heart, Tenchi's mind played out the moment of his arrival. He would race back to the lab, find her and hold her in his arms. The need to never let her go again would overwhelm him as his arms tighten their selfish hold around her.

I'll remember and I will never let go.

He would kiss her and hold her as tightly as he could. Refusing to let go of her until she understood exactly how much she meant to him. How much he loved her. He would hold her and caress her face. He would beseech her if need be.

No I will never let go.

Tenchi felt his heart flop in his chest as he watched the planet he had just left slowly emerge from the darkness of space. He would make her understand. He would erase all the pain he had ever caused her with his callousness, for she was his heart, his very soul, and his darling angel. That made Tenchi smile. He remembered faintly with the fuzzy images of childhood memories, a time when his father had called his mother that. His darling angel. And she had said that he was her heaven and earth, the ever after and beyond. And somehow, the name angel seemed appropriate for Ryoko. She was his darling fallen angel. Though her wings were soiled and were slightly battered, she was his angel. And if it took the rest of his life, he would mend those wings and help her soar once again.

Want you, miss you

Love you I do.

As he watched Earth approach and then the island of his homeland transform from a faint dot to the land he loved, Tenchi felt longing cross his arms and clench his hands. He was so close to returning to her now. He could feel the faint push of her presence at the back of his mind and it made him long for her caress all the more.

Hopelessly longing for the touch of your hand.

The craft touched down while Tenchi was gathering his belongings and stuffing them carelessly into his bag. In a hurry to leave the lonely confines of the ship and make his confession to Ryoko while she was awake Tenchi raced through the ship gathering the last few remnants needed. Finally with all his stuff gathered Tenchi shouted the command for the ship to transfer him to the ground outside. Once outside the ship Tenchi raced for the house.

Dropping his bag at the front door and hastily kicking off his shoes, Tenchi raced through the house. In his sock covered feet Tenchi missed the closet door as he skidded right passed it. Crashing into the wall at the other end of the room Tenchi collected himself and raced back to the door, and almost repeated the process in the opposite direction.

Finally Tenchi arrived at the door and opened it. Then raced around Washu's lab. Searching for the room that held the woman he intended to confess to once and for all. Finally after skidding and crashing into several machines Tenchi found the room he remembered last seeing the slumbering Ryoko.

And baby here I am,

Tenchi slowly opened the door and apprehensively entered. Searching around for Washu Tenchi approached the bed. Finally giving up his search for Washu Tenchi sat down on the bed and watched as Ryoko slept. Tenchi swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. Would she ever understand him? Could he ever make her understand him? Fear and doubt clenched the confession in his throat and sealed his lips as a slowly settling depression began to run numbing finger across his heart.

Nothing but blue

Maybe you'll never know

Then she stirred from her slumber. Eyes slowly opening to groggily stare at him. Dazed and confounded by her beauty Tenchi could only sit beside her on the bed, mute and dazzled. Slowly Ryoko approached him. Sliding across the bed to stop at his side. It had been days since he had left. The trip, which had only been mere hours for Tenchi took 8 days back on earth. And in that time she had mourned her loss. But now before her sat the man she loved, looking lost. Smiling gently up at him Ryoko opened her mouth to begin to speak. To tell him how much she loved him. But Ryoko was surprise into silence as Tenchi's lips descended to hers. And in that dream-like moment, she rejoiced, her heart full to bursting and her prayers answered.

How much I want you, miss you, love you.

Removing his lips from hers, Tenchi smiled softly at the faint whimper that whispered from Ryoko's lips. And when she opened her love-hazed eyes to his, he said the words that came from his heart… I Want you, missed you, Love you….