Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction ❯ Underneath it All ❯ And All That Could Have Been ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I do not own Tenchi Muyo, and no animals were harmed in the writing of this fic.


Underneath it All
By Ovrboost

- A puppet does as it’s told.
Never does it have a will; never does it have a voice.
Crucified on its’ strings of control, it wishes for the death its’ master withholds.
What happens when the strings are cut?

- Create me, make me real.
Show me what it’s like to feel.
Rise up from the below, left without a place to go
The shackles bind me to this wall, (cutting; scratching)
What have I become? I feel so numb.
Chapter 2: And all that could have been

It hadn’t taken long for Ryoko, in her weakened state to fall fast asleep in the Yosho’s arms. Still in a state of semi-shock, Yosho found himself unwilling, or unable to move from this spot. The deafening screams and heart wrenching sobs still echoed throughout his consciousness, drowning out reasonable thought, and denying him any form of meditation.

The tentative chirping of birds draws Yosho’s attention, as they try out their new perch in the middle of the lake. The sun was setting, beautiful shades of red and orange mixed into the remaining blue. It all seemed strangely familiar, so tranquil, and so serene. Finally the tortured voices fade into memory, fade into peace. The faint smile that had formed on his face also fades, as his eyes ventured back down to the woman in his arms.

Screams, the blood curdling sounds of those grievously injured, and of those who have lost loved ones, permeate the darkness. The scorching heat of a thousand fires heats the air like a blast furnace out of control. The flames lick the horizon, giving a dull glow to the night sky. Explosions rock the ground, turning once beautiful structures into piles of rubble, dust, and humanity. The flashes of light and fire brightly illuminate the ground, littered with the bodies of the dead, and dying.

Suddenly, a deafening silence stretches over the landscape, as the final body falls without a sound, ending the screams, fires, and explosions. The scene is reminiscent of a grotesque kind of graveyard, yet the bodies lie bleeding, rotting, and unburied.

Approaching the body of a child clutching a stuffed animal, the chest can be seen moving slowly up and down, as a hand reaches out of the darkness. The hand appears to wield a glowing ball of plasma floating before its palm. Suddenly the child turned her head, revealing a horrible burn running the length of her face, the lifeless doll eyes staring blankly into space.

“Why?” asked the girl, in an innocent voice while a tear fell from her one good eye. The features of her body begin to deteriorate into an emaciated, angular look of a living skeleton. The flesh melts from her body, pooling around her revealing patches of tendon, and bone. “WHY?!” she screamed, the jaws almost dislocating as the ball of energy leaves the hand, vaporizing the body upon contact.

Ryoko awoke with a start, a loud yelp escaping her mouth, as she drew into herself, curling into a ball. It took her a moment to realize that instead of a cold metallic floor, she was on a luxurious bed wrapped in sheets made of a crimson silk. It reminded her of a sea of blood.

The lights were dimmed, casting long shadows across her surroundings, through the darkness she could make out the dimensions of the room. The walls seemed to be made of living oak, as if the room was encased by a tree. She knew exactly where she was, and it frightened her. Slinking out of the large bed, and keeping a low profile, Ryoko made her way towards the rooms exit.

“Just where do you think you are going?” came a voice from the corner. Ryoko froze; she formed her energy sword while simultaneously moving to a defensive stance, the dull glow of her sword painting her and her immediate surroundings in a deep crimson. Stepping from his corner, Yosho surveyed the scene, flashbacks from the previous day flooded his mind, causing pause. He deftly placed a hand on Tenchiken refusing to ignite the blade for fear of provoking another fight.

“Yosho?” asked Ryoko in an innocent voice, extinguishing the blade, as the room lights came up.

“Where were you going?” asked Yosho, in a calm voice as he removed his hand from the sword hilt.

“I was… I’m leaving.” she said, looking down at the floor as she continued; “If he has to look for me, the punishments are more severe.”

“Who do you speak of?” his voice denoting a sore spot for men who beat women.

“Kagato… my master.” The mere name brought back memories of countless reports regarding stolen artifacts, missing galaxy police ships and personnel, as well as an abducted galaxy academy student. It was starting to make sense to Yosho, as the pieces started to fall into place.

“I’m sorry, but I have to go.” said Ryoko, in a voice barely loud enough to hear. A faint tear rolled down her face as she turned towards the exit, prompting Yosho to action.

“I cannot allow you to leave…not yet.” said Yosho, his demeanor an odd mix of sympathy, and determination. “If I allow you to leave this planet, it will only mean that that man will… force you to do…” pausing, Yosho turns away from Ryoko and gazes out the window. “You will remain here until I decide on the best course of action.” Pivoting on his heel, Yosho makes for the exit of the room, striding silently by Ryoko.
“Wait! You can’t do this!” pleaded Ryoko, as she follows the prince. “No, please just let me go!” her pursuit is halted at the doorway by a barricade of tree branches as they slide into place behind Yosho. Surprised, yet still determined, she clutches onto the branches, watching Yosho as he strode down the corridor. “WAIT! …YOSHO, PLEASE WAIT!” her voice becoming strained as she screamed. The retreating figure remained unresponsive as he entered the turbo lift. “Please don’t leave…. I don’t want to be alone…” a cascade of quiet tears mar her features, as she turns away from the corridor, and slides down the impromptu barricade. “I don’t… want to be alone again.” She whispered to herself as the darkness clawed its way back into the room.

The boots clicked loudly against the floor of the corridor, echoing a sense of urgency into the ears of the prince. Scenarios of the future, as well as emotions created a volatile mixture of thoughts swirling around Yosho’s head. For some reason rational thought was lost to him when in her presence, raw emotions took their hold over his primal instincts urging him to reach out, to make contact, show love to the emotional wasteland that had lay at his feet. He needed to meditate, calm, and cleanse his soul in order to reach the ideal solution. Something must be done, and once again it was up to him.

Oddly enough, Yosho found himself back in front of the lake, the new dawn casting a streak of orange far out on the horizon. There he sat long into the morning, meditating amidst the beauty of the semi-scarred landscape framed by nature’s omnificence. Touring the landscape, Yosho couldn’t help but notice a cave. It seemed so out of context with the rest of the scenery, yet there was something about it that gave him a slight pause before moving on. Just before what he assumed was the middle of the day, Yosho returned to Funaho. He needed answers, as well as something to eat.

Arriving to his personal quarters, food tray in hand, Yosho could make out Ryoko’s shadow which told him she was looking out the window. The tree branches swept back into the walls, only to close again after Yosho stepped into the room. Setting down the tray, he made his way over to where Ryoko was standing. A shiver made its’ way up Ryoko’s spine, after she heard his entrance. Her attention now averted from the splendor of the tree ships’ vast landscape, Ryoko turns to her reluctant captor, eyes cast slightly down.

“Can I go now?” asked Ryoko with uncertainty, already knowing the answer. Yosho stopped, pausing for a noticeable amount of time before replying.

“Are you hungry? I brought some food with me, I’m sure that you will find most adequate.” he said avoiding her gaze, while simultaneously gesturing towards the tray of food.

“That’s not what I asked.” said Ryoko, in a low tone.

“Yes, I know that.” replied Yosho, meeting her piercing eyes with his own; “I need more information. Please stay and we can tal…”
“NO!” yelled Ryoko, breaking Yosho off, before continuing with broken words; “Just let me go!” Ryoko formed her energy sword, as a tear made its way down her face. “Or I’ll have to force my way out.”

“Then what will you do, Ryoko? Go back to your master, and continue your so called life?” said Yosho, irritation getting the better of him. “Don’t you realize that that… that bastard is either going to get you killed, or do it his damn self?!”

“Get out of my way Yosho.” Ryoko replied, grasping her sword now with both hands, the blade crossing her body crackling with energy.

“Ryoko… I’m trying to help you. Please don’t force me to…” his voice fading as he drew out the hilt of his sword, the red gems pulsing with power. Hesitantly Yosho ignited the blade, yet keeping it by his side, pointed towards the floor. “Don’t force me to hurt you again…”

His words gave Ryoko pause, shocked she lowered her blade. “You… you have no idea… He will kill you, and then punish me again.” A hesitant, halting breath; “He will destroy this whole planet, destroy everything if I stay. You have no idea the hell I’ve been through, no idea of the hell I’ll go through… YOU SHOULD HAVE KILLED ME WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE!” violent, yet still unvoiced sobs racked her body, causing her to extinguish her blade as she brought her hands up to her face, covering it.

“Tell me.” Yosho said, evenly; “show me your hell, so that I may help carry the burden” his blade already dissipated, Yosho picked up the broken woman before him and walked her over to the bed, where they both sat. Ryoko looked into his eyes, as they sat. She searched his soul with her golden eyes, trying to find a reason, trying to discern his motivation.

“Alright.” Ryoko quietly agreed.

The sun started to make its descent, casting the room into twilight. Ryoko sat quietly, her face angled up slightly, seemingly staring into space. A strip of orange light found its way into the room through the trees outside, gracing her, forming a sort of odd, orange halo around her profile. To Yosho, it seemed faintly angelic, yet foreboding. The two had sat on his bed in silence for a good while alternating between hesitantly looking at each other, and staring off into space. Finally, Ryoko broke the silence.

“I guess I should start at the beginning…” she said softly, glancing at Yosho before examining her hands which lay still in her lap. “ I’ve always been like this, for as long as I can remember… I mean, I was never physically a child, at least not that I know of…” Upon hearing her start her story, Yosho turned on the bed to face her fully, content on absorbing every detail.

“I guess it all started about 5000 years ago, I woke up not knowing where I was, or who I was, all I knew was that… that I was naked and chained to the floor…”

The room was shrouded in darkness, completely devoid of furnishings, sterile. Constructed out of a dull silver metal, the room’s only features were the shackles in the center, and the outline of a doorway on the far wall. Lying on her side, curled into a loose ball, Ryoko slowly raised her head from the floor to take in the surroundings. Completely confused, she noticed that she was naked, and attempted to cover herself, but the chains that bound her arms were too short to allow it. Before she could scream out for help, the doorway behind her slide open with a soft hydraulic sound.

“Good, you’re finally awake.” said the figure which seemed to glide in through the door, with an elegant voice. “Perhaps now we can begin.” Ryoko craned her neck around her body to get a look at the man, following him around her with her eyes. Finally coming to a stop to her front, he nonchalantly waved his hand before him, causing the chains to release from her wrists. “Disobey me and you will suffer my wrath.” he warned, dropping his voice a few octaves into something more dangerous. A smirk crossed his face, as her fear became tangible, he could smell her fear. The lights fade out, and a scream pierces the darkness. ‘How glorious.’


The sun had by now fully set outside of Yosho’s room, the long cast shadows now gone, the only light in the room emanated from the soft accent lighting framing the ceiling. Somewhere along the line, the color had left Yosho’s face. He listened to her words but something inside of him wished he hadn’t. Ryoko had kept her voice monotone throughout, even when the story came to her recollections of the ‘medical’ experiments, past acquaintances, the closest things to friends, or lovers she had ever had, killed by her forced hand. The only time her voice wavered was when she talked of how she was used to physically persuade men of power to further the monster’s goals, or of when she was simply used. No tears came, but Yosho could clearly tell they were close, whether or not they came from her, did not seem to matter.

He was at a total loss for words, but Yosho’s inner thoughts raged, a strange mix of pity, hatred for the man who caused it, disgust for what she was forced to become, want, and… lust. His eyes widened with the realization; he wanted her, but the consequences of that had yet to register. Without thinking, as if he was observing his body from the far corner, Yosho slowly reached out and caressed Ryoko’s jaw line, pulling her head up and towards him, as his fingers gently traced the way to her chin. He was lost to the moment, in a far corner of his brain, something told him to convey his… love?

“Yosho…” Ryoko began, emotionally depleted after having relayed her life story for the first time in her existence, to the one person she almost as if she could trust. ‘What is he doing?’ she thought to herself as he leaned in towards her. ‘Oh no… no…n. nnnno no no no no no no no no’ She felt his lips make contact with her own. She did not resist. After a few moments, they both came up for air, Yosho moved his head back far enough so that she could finally get her words out; “Yosho… Please… Donnnmmm” cut short by another assault from his tongue. His arms started pulling her into a tighter embrace, casually, if not somewhat hungrily roaming her back.

…trust

‘WHAT IS HE DOING?!’ a grunt and a soft moan accompany the thought. ‘….this isn’t happening… no… I’m dreaming… that’s it! I’m asleep…’ her top falls from around her shoulders. ‘Just a dream…just a dream…. Just a dream…. Just a dream…’ she feels his hands caress her breasts. ‘Not again….’ a hand moves lower, as he helps himself to her mouth. ‘He’s just like all the others!’ his tongue moves deeper. ‘NO! …He’s not like that!’ her face is the portrait of agony ‘…Then why?’

…click

Yosho is taken aback, as the once unmoving Ryoko, suddenly pushes him hard back into the bed, climbing atop him straddling him around the waist, as she starts returning his advances. ‘Animalistic… this is… lust’ his visage turns dark as he looks into her eyes. ‘Dead… her eyes are dead…’ something inside of him instantly told him that something was wrong, but it was far too late. ‘I have to stop… this…’ his thought was greeted by a wave of pleasure as she had indeed taken the initiative concerning his more sensitive area. Whatever rational thoughts that remained in his head quickly vanished as the sensations and pleasures overtook him.

Almost as quickly as it had begun, it was finished. The room was silent aside from the soft sounds of breathing in the night. Yosho lay asleep upon the huge bed, on the covers that reminded Ryoko so much of blood. Unblinking, she stared at the ceiling for well over an hour, her face blank, and her body limp. Slowly turning her head, she took in the sleeping Yosho’s face; her now dull yellow eyes drank in his features. ‘Just like all the others…’ her face twisted into a pained, almost maniacal smile ‘…yes master’





A/N: This was, in its original form, two chapters. The two poems at the top being evenly distributed, and yes I wrote them. Anyways, that’s all for now. Reviews would be nice…