Heart without a beat
A/N: Thought of coming up with another story. I finally sat down and watched Game of Thrones, well first season at least. And well the relationship between Khal Drogo and Daenerys reminded me of Ryoko and Hotsuma. So, with this story…I will start the storyline after Kiyone and Mihoshi infiltrated the hideout, and Ryoko is thinking about visiting earth every now and then.
I do not own Tenchi Muyo! franchises. I do not own Game of Thrones characters either, if I did I would not have killed off Khal Drogo! But I own this crazy imagination of mine.
HEART WITHOUT A BEAT
"Get the hell out of my head!" Ryoko lunged forward breathing heavily beads of sweat forming on her head. Looking around the dark room, feeling the relief of being in her familiar quarters she spoke up in frustration once more.
"Damn nightmare!" Ryoko fell back staring at the ceiling. It has been several weeks since Yugi was put in the cave, and every night since, Ryoko has been plagued by the last images of her partner in crime. His howl. His prone form and blood intermingling with the snow.
Ryoko let out a shaky breath as she rubbed her eyes. She was also holding in a few more secrets since Tenchi returned from Tokyo and she needed to come up with a plan as soon as possible.
Placing a hand to her abdomen she sighed. "This is going to be a long night."
"Hey Ryoko!" Tenchi called out on the other side of the door late morning. Feeling concern, he knocked and pop his head in. "Hey Ryoko…Ryoko?" Tenchi announced again, the room was dark but he made out Ryoko's form under the covers.
"What is it Tenchi?" Ryoko tried to keep her voice normal.
"You missed breakfast." Tenchi sat on her futon, his hand on her leg.
"Sasami is upset, isn't she?" Ryoko sat up concealing her grogginess, Tenchi scooted closer, his arm now rested across her body to the side of her right hip looking at her sympathetically.
"You okay?" Tenchi questioned not caring about her previous inquiry. He knew Ryoko long enough to pick up her change in mood.
"I will be fine." Ryoko smiled. "I have to see Washu—I mean Mom." Ryoko relieved her legs from under the covers and from Tenchi's pressure on her legs.
"I understand." He chuckled following Ryoko to the door. "If you need to talk though, I'll be around. Don't be a stranger." Ryoko turned briefly and smiled. Tenchi watched her as the former pirate descended the stairs.
"What is up my little Ryoko?" Washu quickly peered up from her console. Ryoko grunted as she flopped down in the chair. "It is a bit out of character for you to drop in here voluntary."
"To hell with it." Ryoko mumbled to herself. "I need an abortion." Ryoko blurted out staring ahead of her. Washu smile waned as she tried to wrap her head around her daughters' sudden confession.
"I beg your pardon, Ryoko?" Washu felt her hearing failed her dragging her cushion closer to her daughter. Placing a hand on her knee, "Your pregnant?"
"Yes." Ryoko admitted turning away slightly blushing. "Quit looking at me like that."
"How…Who? What?" Washu asked still puzzled.
"…We both know how one gets pregnant." Ryoko glanced at Washu.
"Your right, I am just shocked. You sure you are pregnant?"
"Yes."
"How can you be so sure?" Washu searched Ryoko eyes for answers.
"I guess it is time to let the cat out of the bag." Ryoko looked to her mother. "It all started when…"
"What's up? Looks like you are in a good mood." Hotsuma materialized as he peered down at Ryoko, who laid on the floor.
"As a matter of fact, I am!" She sat up. "You know what? I am thinking I should go and visit earth once in a while." She smiled back at him.
"You could, but why would you want to go back there? Unless you are missing someone that you must go see." His smooth voice questioned turning his head down slightly with narrowed eyes.
"Who is there to miss?! Huh?!" She sat up shouting at him, "What was I thinking?" She hugged herself.
"If it helps any, I would like for you to accompany me on a little detour. You must be feeling out of sorts after the stunt your friends pulled." He faced her on a bended knee.
"What did ya have in mind?" Ryoko winced as she forced herself to ask. 'Damn Curiosity'
"Kleeis" He said confidently inputting the coordinates of the planet. Ryoko pondered on the name.
"Well, I am going to assume you will expand a bit more on that." Ryoko peeked over his shoulder.
"Kleeis, One of the many large planets in the solar system. A vast planet—yet isolated. At some point Jurai tried to gain control causing a war to ensue but, the Kleeis government honed on keeping traditions alive, and with great battle tactics…they won the war. The treasures are a sight to see." Hotsuma looked to her playfully, he reached out to run a finger along her mane as the Cyan haired woman looked off in the distance. She was already on board by the mention of 'treasure.'
"Fine, I like a challenge, let's see how badass they are when Ryoko comes through! Let us turn this baby around and head over there!" She phased away. Hotsuma smiled to himself as inputted the coordinates.
"We made our way to this planet. As we descended…it was so beautiful." Ryoko eyes glistened recalling the turquoise colored ocean of the planet. Its mountains. "It reminded me so much of earth."
"I see. Kleeis...eh?" Washu repeated the name and nodded crossed her leg.
"It's for certain why it remained isolated." Ryoko pursed her lips before continuing.
"Wow, the beach looks amazing. The color is so rich. It all makes sense now as to why they wanted to remain secluded." Ryoko's palms pressed against the screen as she stared in awe out the window. Hotsuma smirked watching as her breath fogged the window for a quick second, and the elation in her voice reminded him of a kid in a candy store.
As Gaiyan came to a stop at the shore line. Ryoko smiled with anticipation as the flapped open, she was on the verge of running out when Hotsuma held her arm.
"What now?" Ryoko looked to him exasperated.
"Proceed with caution. I will go first." Hotsuma walked past her coming to a stop a few meters just outside of the ship. He peered around noticing heads bobbing from a bush ahead of him, he assumed they were children. His eyes narrowed as he signaled for Ryoko to remained put. Ryoko called out to him noticing the children running away scaling a hill, her brows furrowed as she became another set of eyes for her partner.
Suddenly, Hotsuma turned to the sound of galloping. He turned to find two men approaching on two black horses. He looked on questionably as the men approached. 'Horses on this planet?'
"Who are you? You are not allowed here!" A scruffy man with black shoulder length hair with a brown sleeveless leather vest and form fitting black bottoms. Ryoko looked on in confusion not understanding the language that came out of the man's mouth. To her surprise Hotsuma replied in the same language.
"It was a strange language. Can't quite place it. I was surprise Hotsuma spoke it so well…" Ryoko glanced at her mother.
"It seems like he brought you to his home planet. And it turned out to be more than he bargained for." Washu smiled encouraging her daughter to continue. Ryoko shrugged and continued.
"I'll be damned. A Ghost." The man laughed sliding off the horse approaching Hotsuma A smile crept across his face. "Look at what the wind blew in." He told the man behind him.
He turned his head sideways noticing Ryoko hiding in the shadows he playfully waved at her.
"Is that your lady?" He questioned in their native language to Hotsuma, waving once more at Ryoko.
"That is none of your concern." Hotsuma retorted staring daggers at him.
"No need to be shameful. She looks beautiful from what I can see." He ran his fingers down the sides of his beard. "Your father is going to kick your ass when he sees you. But since you have brought that woman, he just may spare you."
Ryoko watched the exchange within the shadows of the docking chamber, soon deciding it was time to put on her confident front and approach the men. She hugged herself as the cool breeze enveloped her, she tucked her hair behind her ear, narrowing her eyes at the man who hungrily stared back at her.
"She is more gorgeous than I thought. Her eyes are like the sun." The man gave thumbs up to his partner behind him. Hotsuma narrowed his eyes at the two antics.
"Hey You! What the hell are you talking about?" Ryoko snarled stepping up to the man. The two men unsheathed their swords both targeting Ryoko.
"Tell that bitch to know her place!" The scruffy male hissed at her. Ryoko eyes widen as Hotsuma placed her behind him calmly.
The other shouted at her, "You are a foreigner!" Ryoko narrowed her eyes, she did not understand their language and looked to Hotsuma for any answers. She saw him smirking. 'How can he think this is funny when they are on verge of killing me?'
"Best you watch your tongue, I do command you to respect her."
"You do not command me! You left this planet suddenly. You've written all of us off, yet to return with this foreigner whore!" He pointed at Ryoko and spit at the ground
Hotsuma ordered for Ryoko to stand back, as he prepared to fight. Ryoko eyes widen as she watched Hotsuma dodged the slashes from the swords only to reach out and grab the first offender back to him, holding the blade to the man's throat. The disheveled man eyes widen as he looked to his partner ahead of him. He placed his palms up warning his partner to not rile up Hotsuma anymore.
The man placed his shaking hands on Hotsuma's arm trying to bring forth amity. Hotsuma brows furrowed tightening his hold around the man and the sword, he brought his mouth to the man's ear.
"If you ever disrespect her again, it won't be long before the beetles will feed on your gutted-out eyes and your lacerated tongue. You will die a slow painful death!" Hotsuma snarled allowing the blade to run across the man's perspiring neck. He shoved the man into the arms of the other.
"Haruka, you are bleeding!" The other uttered in fear eyeing the wound. Ryoko eyes widen in fear however appreciation at the show of her partners' protection over her.
A fearful Haruka placed two fingers on his neck, bringing his blood-stained fingers before him. "Y-You are a sick bastard, you would even harm your family for that woman?" Haruka tightening his jaw as the sting from the cut began. "Can you believe this guy, Hayate? He definitely has been cowed." Hayate smirked in astonishment but did not dare spoke. Hotsuma was on the verge of lunging when they heard wrestling by the shrubs nearby.
They watched as an older man struggled to balance himself on his cane, making his way on to the shoreline. Hayate assisted the elder, "Uncle, we were only going to be a minute. You should not have come to seek us."
"At that moment, I noticed a tall man struggling to make his way to the shore line for some reason I wanted to help him..." Ryoko shifted in her seat unconsciously rubbing her swollen belly.
Ryoko narrowed her eyes noticing an eerie resemblance of Hotsuma, much years older and shorter locks.
"His eyes stood out, exactly like Hotsuma. That piercing icy glare. It looks like he could not contain his excitement, he rushed over to Hotsuma looking like he saw a ghost, wanted to make sure what he was seeing was real." Ryoko recalled the scene. Washu eyes lowered remembering the first time she was reunited with Ryoko. Ryoko sighed.
"I have been going on for a while, I am boring you, aren't I?" Ryoko glance at her mother. She watched her mother shook her head, and with a chuckle she rose and poured two cups of tea, placing it on the tray she returned to her seat. Ryoko picked up the mug placing it to her lips.
"Please continue." Washu looked on incitingly. Ryoko nodded.
"Hotsuma…My son." The older man was on the verge of tears, holding tightly to Hotsuma arms. Ryoko noticed Hotsuma back straighten with a look of disgust written across his face. He placed his father at arm's length. Ryoko quickly realized she understood what the older man articulated.
"Hachiro." Ryoko heard Hotsuma spoke.
"It's been so long." Hachiro looked over Hotsuma once more, he was starting to place his hands upon his face when Hotsuma stepped back. The older man eyes faltered and nodded sadly. He sought Ryoko who was still concealing herself behind Hotsuma.
Ryoko grimaced feeling Hotsuma hand interlace with hers.
"Your eyes are like the sun." Hachiro spoke to her in awe. Ryoko questioned herself, if for some reason, she was understanding the language but realize he was not speaking in the native tongue at all.
"What is your name?" He asked with a touch of an accent. Ryoko parted her mouth to answer but Hotsuma interjected.
"Ryoko." Hotsuma gripped tighten.
"You have a striking resemblance to someone I once knew. I am, Lord Hachiro." He reintroduced himself offering his hand. Ryoko fought with herself inwardly if to be cold or welcoming. Instead she remained silent and nodded. She looked behind Hachiro to two women who slyly sneaked glances at her.
"I am sure your trip here was a bit lengthy. Please, Lady Ryoko allow Lady Sora and Takara to help you freshen up, and Hotsuma you can come with me. Have a lot to speak of." Hachiro let out a hearty chuckle. Takara approached Ryoko and bowed, Takara was flawless. Her olive-green eyes stared intensely into Ryoko's amber pools. Her soft jet black hair blew in the wind beating alongside Ryoko's arm. Gently pulling her away from Hotsuma who reluctantly released her hand. Ryoko briefly looked back with worry. Approaching Lady Sora, Ryoko eyed her intensely. Sora was a middle-aged woman, heavier than Takara who built was similar to Ryoko's. Ryoko noticed a disfigurement running through the middle of Sora's left eyebrow down to the center of her cheek. Sora briefly made eye contact with Ryoko feeling bashful that Ryoko may have been staring at her scar.
Once the women left the scene. Hachiro turned to his son, his kind bravado faltering quickly.
"I hope you returned for good reasoning." Hachiro turned to the ocean with a frown.
"It is unfortunate to still see you alive." Hotsuma retorted.
"The tension is still strong between you two." Hyate spoke up with Haruka nursing his wound behind him.
"Of course, it is. He's the reason my mother is dead and covered it up by sending me away!" Hotsuma eyes narrowed and his jaw tightening, as he allowed the anger to wash over him.
A/N: Phew! This was long. Here's a little background of the mentioned characters. Hyate and Haruka are twin brothers and are cousins of Hotsuma. Hachiro is Hotsuma's father. And I will expand a bit more on why there is a rift between them. I hope you guys like it. Don't forget to review!