All characters are property of AIC and Pioneer LDC. This story line is based on the Tenchi Muyo OVA and Tenchi Universe. It is not my intent to rip off other peoples' work so, if this story resembles another, it does so inadvertently.
Ryoko's Degredation
Ryoko didn't sleep very well during the night. No matter what she tried she couldn't rest. She even tried to count sheep. When she finally gave up on trying to sleep, she decided to sit on the roof and watch the sunrise. This was the third night in a row that she wasn't able to get much rest. Although the sky was mostly clear, there were clouds on the horizon, which meant she probably wasn't going to see the sun rise over the mountains like she wanted.
"Is it too much to ask for a little sunshine?" Ryoko thought to herself. Ryoko continued to watch as the sky got brighter. She looked straight up at one of the clouds and saw that sunlight was already striking one of the edges.
"Good Morning!" A cheerful voice announced from behind Ryoko. Ryoko nearly jumped out of her skin. She whipped around to face Washu.
"Damn it, Washu!" Ryoko yelled. Washu continued to smile.
"What do you want?" Ryoko asked with contempt.
"Oh, nothing in particular. I just wanted to see how my little girl was doing this morning." Washu sang.
"I was doing great until you showed up." Ryoko answered.
"Don't be like that...Sunshine?" Washu teased.
"I TOLD YOU TO STAY OUT OF MY HEAD!" Ryoko yelled.
"I don't listen too well." Washu mocked. Ryoko was starting to get angry. Washu decided to let up.
"Oh, come on. I'm just teasing. I know you have thicker skin than that. " Washu explained. Ryoko didn't answer. Before Ryoko knew what happened, Washu and she were standing outside of Tenchi's room. Ryoko gave a quick look around as though she didn't believe where she was standing.
"How did you do that?" Ryoko asked. Washu smiled and walked towards the stairs. The door to Tenchi's room opened and Tenchi stepped out into the hall.
"Oh. Good morning, Ryoko." Tenchi greeted as he scratched his frizzled hair. Ryoko smiled brightly and turned to greet Tenchi. Before she was able to say something, Sasami rushed up to Tenchi and gave him a hug.
"Good Morning Tenchi!" Sasami piped up cheerfully.
"Well good morning, Sasami. Why are you so happy?" Tenchi asked.
"Because today is Saturday and you will be home to play with me all day." Sasami offered.
"That sounds like a good idea." Tenchi said as Sasami pulled him by the arm toward the stairs.
"Come on. Im going to cook a big breakfast with all the things you like." Sasami spouted. Tenchi and Sasami disappeared from view. Ryoko became agitated once more but beyond that was a feeling of unease. This day didn't seem to be starting off as well as she would have liked.
* * *
Everyone was gathered around the table and marveled at the delights that Sasami had prepared this morning.
"Wow, Sasami! You weren't kidding." Tenchi said.
"Of course I wasn't." Sasami replied happily.
"What is everyone waiting for? Let's dig in." Washu suggested. And with that, everyone started to pass dishes. Ryoko was lifting her bowl of miso to her lips when Mihoshi lunged for a plate and knocked Ryoko's bowl from her hand. The sculding hot liquid quickly soaked through Ryoko's clothes and burned her.
"YAHHHH!!!!" Ryoko screamed in pain as she jumped back away from the table. In her haste, Ryoko accidently kicked the table and sent all of Sasami's breakfast sailing into the opposing wall. Ryoko stood, with her hands clamped to the front of her yellow and blue dress pulling the wet portion of her clothes away from her body.
"My breakfast!" Sasami yelled.
"Are you ok, Ryoko?" Tenchi asked with concern. Ryoko's painful expression quickly changed into fury as she turned her attention towards Mihoshi. Mihoshi looked worried. Ryoko rushed over to Mihoshi and lifted her off the floor by her collar until less than an inch separated the pair.
"I'm sorry." Mihoshi squeaked.
"YOU CLUTZ! You are always sorry!" Ryoko bellowed.
"That's enough, Ryoko." Washu said. This made Ryoko even angrier.
"Who are you to tell me, 'That's enough." Ryoko fumed. Washu crossed her arms and didn't reply. Sasami started to cry over the hard work she put into her breakfast gone to waste. Tenchi walked over to Sasami and put his arm around her. Ryoko released Mihoshi and glared at Washu. Washu glared back
"Ryoko?" Tenchi pleaded upon seeing Washu and Ryoko. Ryoko didn't say a word as she teleported out of the dining room.
"Ryoko?!" Tenchi said as he raised his hand to where Ryoko was.
"Don't worry about her, Tenchi. She's just in a bad mood." Washu explained.
"She ruins breakfast and doesn't even offer an apology to Sasami? Is it any wonder that we don't get along." Ayeka interjected.
"It wasn't intirely her fault." Tenchi corrected.
"I said I was sorry." Mihoshi sobbed before bursting into tears.
"It was nobody's fault, Mihoshi. It was just an accident." Washu explained.
"I hope Ryoko knows that." Tenchi thought to himself.
* * *
Ryoko was still angry about the events that had just taken place. She teleported to the onzen in hopes of getting over herself. She was washing herself and scrubbed all the more when she recounted what took place at breakfast in her mind. She rinced herself with a bucket of water then drifted to the bath and slipped into the water in her usual place. Ryoko leaned her head back to see the sky through the transparent cieling of the onzen. Clouds were gathering and it looked like it wasn't going to be long before it started to rain.
"Just perfect." Ryoko thought out loud. She reached out for one of the bottles of sake that she put next to the bath and poured herself a saucer full then downed it in one gulp. Then she poured herself another, then another, then another until the bottle was empty. Ryoko was angry at the bottle for being empty and threw it into the air. Before the offending bottle started its descent, Ryoko blasted it into hundreds of tiny pieces with a bolt of orange energy fired from the palm of her right hand. Small porcelain fragments rained down into the water and tinkled onto the wooden deck. Ryoko smiled at her handiwork. She looked to the deck next to her and saw a few full bottles of sake and the little saucer she used to drink it with.
"I don't really need this." Ryoko thought to herself as she picked up the saucer.
"Pull!" Ryoko yelled as she hurled the unfortunate saucer into the air. Once again, she fired an energy blast from her right palm. The saucer met with the same fate as the previous bottle and its remnents tinkled onto the wooden deck. Ryoko grinned. Taking her frustrations out on pottery seemed to be working rather well. She reached for a bottle and drank the sake straight from it.
"Once your usefullness is at it's end, expect to recieve the same fate." Ryoko promiced the bottle. Ryoko was about to take a sip when a memory flashed through her mind. Ryoko paused.
"What was that?" Ryoko asked aloud. She concentrated but the memory faded into nothing. She sat quietly for a few moments before she took another sip. The quiet of the onzen was interrupted by the sound of the door sliding open. Ayeka and Mihoshi stepped in. They looked across the bath and saw Ryoko lounging in her usual place. Ryoko didn't want company but there was nothing she could do. She didn't want to leave either so she just ignored the two ladies that had just entered.
"What has been going on in here?" Ayeka asked as she noticed the small shards of porcelain strewn across the deck. Ryoko remained silent and continued to look skywards.
"Are you responsible for this?" Ayeka accused. Ryoko looked at Ayeka.
"So what if I am?" Ryoko answered.
"Then you are going to have to clean this up." Ayeka instructed.
"I already knew that. Now shut up. I'm trying to relax." Ryoko advised. Ayeka was becoming angry.
"Calm down. She said she would clean it up." Mihoshi said trying to calm the princess.
"How are we suppose to walk through here with all these bits of broken porcelain laying about?" Ayeka asked.
"I don't know and I don't care. Now leave me be." Ryoko warned.
"Do you think you can make a mess anywhere you please and do whatever you want whenever you want?" Ayeka continued. Ryoko didn't reply.
"I'm talking to you, Ryoko." Ayeka reiterrated. Ryoko took another sip from the sake bottle and didn't answer. Ayeka walked around the pieces of broken pottery and stood right next to Ryoko. Mihoshi knew a fight was about to take place and kept a safe distance from the two females. Ryoko continued to ignore Ayeka. Ryoko was raising the bottle to her lips once more when Ayeka reached for the bottle in an atempt to snatch it away from Ryoko. Unfortunately, Ayeka's timing was off and she ended up striking the rear of the bottle. The open end of the bottle was driven into Ryoko's mouth. The bottle chipped a large piece off of one of Ryoko's teeth. Ryoko screamed in anguish. Her yell was so loud that Ayeka and Mihoshi had to plug their ears. Ryoko stood in the bath with both hands clasped tightly over her mouth. A thin line of blood trickled through the cracks in Ryoko's grip. Ayeka looked at Ryoko to see her trembling. Whether it was from the pain of chipping her tooth, her rage, or a mixture of both, Ayeka didn't know. Ryoko slowly loosened her grip. She extended the index finger on her right hand. A bright but small green ball of energy glowed at the end of her fingertip. She raised her finger to her chipped tooth and the tooth regenerated itself. Ryoko's trembling stopped and she let out a sigh of relief as did Ayeka and Mihoshi. Ryoko stood straight up then turned to look at Ayeka. Ryoko didn't have any expression on her face.
"Ryoko, I didn't mean to...." Ayeka started but was unable to finish. Ryoko was on her before she had a chance to react. Ryoko's right hand clasped tight around Ayeka's neck with an iron grip. Ryoko launched herself into the air over the bath and fired Ayeka straight down with great force. Ayeka's impact sent nearly a quarter of the water out of the bath. Moments later, Ayeka emerged from the water. She was clearly dazed and barely conscious. Mihoshi screamed after she realized what just happened. Ryoko's yellow and blue dress materialized around her before she set foot on the deck. Ryoko walked past Mihoshi and floated through the door without saying a word.
* * *
Sasami was busy cleaning the dishes from breakfast. The clatter of pots and pans could be heard from the kitchen as well as the running water. Tenchi was helping out by cleaning up the mess on the far side of the dining area. He had just fininshed when he became aware of a presence. Tenchi saw Ryoko reclining on the trusses over the living room. Washu walked up next to Tenchi to see what he was looking at. Ryoko was lying on her back, facing the cieling, so Tenchi couldn't see her face. But Tenchi could tell by the strokes of Ryoko's false tail that she was not happy about something.
"Still in a bad mood I see." Washu observed. Ryoko didn't say a word. Suddenly, rapid thumps could be heard as though someone was hurrying across the wooden deck towards the back door. The door flew open and Mihoshi stood crying with Ayeka barely conscious leaning on her with one arm around Mihoshi's neck.
"Mihoshi! What happened?" Tenchi yelled as he ran to her.
"Ryoko and Ayeka were fighting!" Mihoshi managed to say between sobs. Sasami stepped out of the kitchen when she heard the comotion. Sasami ran to Ayeka upon witnessing her sister's condition. Ayeka was awake but wasn't very responsive. Her eyes were heavy and she faded in and out more than once.
"Bring her to my lab." Washu ordered. Tenchi watched from the living room as Washu, Sasami, and Mihoshi with Ayeka hurried through Washu's lab door. After the door closed. Tenchi turned his attention to the trusses to see Ryoko in the same position. Tenchi became irritated by Ryoko's silence.
"What did you do to her?" Tenchi asked. Ryoko's tail froze mid swish. She sat up and looked down at Tenchi. Tenchi's expression didn't change. Ryoko rolled off the support beam and slowly drifted to the floor. Her eyes never left Tenchi's. She was soon standing only a foot in front of Tenchi. She wasn't smiling nor frowning. She just stood without an expression. Tenchi didn't know what to make of this. He hadn't seen her like this since she was under Kagato's control. Tenchi became concerned for Ryoko.
"Are you alright?" Tenchi asked. Ryoko didn't answer. Tenchi was starting to lose patience.
"Why did you do that to Ayeka?" Tenchi asked again.
"Because she deserved it." Ryoko answered matter-of-factly.
"Because she deserved it?" Tenchi repeated in disbelief.
"Yes." Ryoko answered again. Tenchi was about to get angry when he noticed Ryoko was still standing without any expression on her face. Tenchi took a few steps away from Ryoko. Ryoko followed him with her eyes. Tenchi turned and walked towards the entrance to Washu's lab. He opened the door and looked at Ryoko just before he walked in. She was still looking at him. For the first time since they met, Tenchi was afraid of Ryoko.
* * *
Ayeka was lying on an examination table. Sasami held her sister's hand and continued to try to get a responce from Ayeka. Washu was typing on her keyboard. She paused for a moment.
"Stand back, Sasami." Washu instructed. Sasami was reluctant to release her sister's hand but did so anyway. As soon as Sasami was clear of the table, a dim green field appeared around Ayeka.
"What are you doing, Little Washu?" Tenchi asked as he approached the group. Washu didn't look up from her keyboard as she replied.
"I haven't found out what exactly is wrong with Ayeka yet. I've put up a containment field around Ayeka. This will stabilize her long enough for me to figure out what's wrong." Washu explained. She hit a few more keys then she stopped as a narrow beam of light traced Ayeka's form from head to toe.
"Ayeka has a concussion but other than that she will just have a few bumps and bruises." Washu explained. Sasami sighed with relief.
"This fight seems to be more serious than most of their bouts. What happened Mihoshi?" Washu asked.
"We walked into the bath and saw lots of broken dishes on the ground. Ayeka kept asking why Ryoko broke them but Ryoko wouldn't say. Ayeka accidently chipped one of Ryoko's teeth with a bottle and that's when Ryoko threw Ayeka into the water very hard." Mihoshi finished.
"That doesn't sound like Ryoko at all?" Washu commented.
"It doesn't?" Tenchi asked.
"Come now, Tenchi. Ryoko is usually an antagonist or being playful when she gets into trouble. This time she was vicious." Washu stated.
"You're right. Do you think something is wrong with her?" Tenchi asked. Washu closed her eyes and concentrated.
"That may be but she is very angry right now. I'll have a talk with her after she has had some time to cool off." Washu stated.
* * *
Ryoko was standing next to the lake as the rain fell. Normally, Ryoko would phase herself so the rain would pass through her but she didn't this time. She felt as though the rain might help her in calming down. Unfortunately, the rain seemed to be having the opposite effect. The colder and wetter she became, the more she became angry until she became exhausted. She sat on the shore of the lake and watched the rain hit the surface of the water. Ryoko tried to witness the exact moment a drop of rain would strike. She started to relax a little. She looked over her sholder at the lit windows of the Masaki house. She wanted to be some place warm but she didn't want to go inside. Ryoko turned her attention back to the water. She looked to the surface and it was as red as blood. The rain appeared to be blood as well. Ryoko was so shocked that she rocketed to her feet. She examined her clothes to see if they were blood-drinched as well but her clothes were soaked with plain rainwater. Ryoko looked back to the lake. The water and the rain were as they should be. Ryoko looked to the ground then placed both of her hands to the sides of her head as if to steady herself. She was wide-eyed and worried.
"Am I going crazy?" Ryoko asked herself. She shifted her attention back to the house. She definitely didn't want to go back inside now. Ryoko stood staring at the house for a while. After some time had passed, she decided to teleport to the cave where she was imprisoned for so many years. Ryoko was breathing heavily. Her last teleport actually took a little bit of effort. She attributed it to her lousy mood and the weather. Ryoko took a few steps into the cave then sat where the wall met the gate. She could feel the cold getting to her but she still didn't phase herself. She leaned against the wall of the cave and she was soon fast asleep.
* * *
Despite the fragile appearance of the feild surrounding Ayeka, it proved to be quite strong. Ayeka was awake and doing her best to get through the field.
"She sure seems full of spirit now, doesn't she?" Washu smiled.
"Um, yes." Sasami confirmed.
"Why haven't you let her out yet?" Mihoshi asked.
"Look at her. Isn't she funny?" Washu teased while pointing at Ayeka. Mihoshi started to laugh as did Washu and the others. Ayeka realised the futility of fighting Washu's technology and sat peacefully.
"Ah! That's much better." Washu said as she hit a few buttons on her keyboard. The dim green field surrounding Ayeka disappeared. Ayeka quickly jumped off the table.
"Where is she?" Ayeka hissed.
"Where is who?" Washu asked.
"Your demonic daughter, that's who?" Ayeka replied.
"Now, now. That's no way for the crown princess of Jurai to act." Washu advised. Ayeka calmed down. Sasami ran up to her sister and gave her a hug.
"I thought you were hurt." Sasami said through a choked up voice. Ayeka smiled.
"It will take more than what Ryoko has to hurt me." Ayeka boasted.
"Where is Ryoko anyway?" Tenchi asked. Washu closed her eyes and concentrated. Washu looked confused for a moment before she answered.
"Hmm..she must be asleep." Washu said with a little concern.
"Is everything alright, Little Washu?" Tenchi asked upon noticing Washu's expression.
"I don't know. Let's go find out." Washu stated as she headed for the lab door. The group stepped into the living room. Tenchi looked out the window and saw that it was still raining.
"It's been six hours since I've seen Ryoko. She's still not out is she?" Tenchi asked.
"The last memories I could see were the cave. Let's go have a look." Washu said.
"I'll go get my coat." Sasami added.
"You should stay here, Sasami. This should only take a few minutes but there is no need for all of us getting cold and wet. I don't want to waste my lab time curing the sick." Washu explained. Sasami nodded her agreement. Tenchi and Washu stepped out the door.
* * *
Tenchi and Washu approached the cave but they failed to see Ryoko. The two looked around but they still saw nothing.
"Hey Ryoko! It's time for dinner. Stop pouting and let's get to some place warm!" Washu yelled. There was no reply.
"Well, let's go see what we can see." Washu sighed. Tenchi nodded. The two started up the makeshift stone staircase that led to the entrance of the cave. At first Tenchi couldn't see anything. The cave was usually dark in the brightest sunlight. The overcast sky made the darkness of the cave almost tangable. Tenchi took a step towards the gate that blocked the cave. Something caused Tenchi to pause for a moment. The yellow stripes of Ryoko's dress were very dull in the poor light but it was enough to get Tenchi's attention. She was huddled in the corner where the rock met the gate. She had both arms rapped tightly around herself and she was facing away from Tenchi. Washu noticed Tenchi's pause. She looked toward the wall and saw Ryoko. Tenchi just stood for a few moments. He remembered how Ryoko looked the last time he saw her so he was not so eager to disturb her now. Washu, on the other hand, had no problem with disturbing her. Washu tip-toed queitly behind Ryoko.
"RISE AND SHINE SLEEPING BEAUTY!!" Washu yelled with all her might. Tenchi jumped when Washu yelled. Ryoko remained motionless.
"Stubborn to the end." Washu sighed in defeat. Tenchi got over his apprehension and walked up next to Ryoko.
"Come on, Ryoko. Don't be mad." Tenchi pleaded as he reached for Ryoko's shoulder. Tenchi placed his hand on Ryoko then quickly removed it. Tenchi's eyes widened.
"Washu! She's ice cold!" Tenchi alarmed. Washu didn't hesitate. She hurried to Ryoko and quickly rolled her over. Ryoko's face was almost white. Her eyes were barely cracked open and her breathing was weak and labored.
* * *
"She has gone too far this time. The next time I see her, we'll settle the score once and for all." Ayeka said before biting into a rice cracker. Sasami and Mihoshi shifted their attention from the TV to Ayeka.
"Didn't you say that last time?" Sasami questioned.
"I mean it this time." Ayeka asserted.
"Didn't you mean it last time?" Mihoshi asked.
"I said that I meant it but I really didn't. This time I do." Ayeka replied with consternation.
"Oh." Sasami and Mihoshi replied in unison.
"What did you mean?" Noboyuki asked as he walked into the living room.
"Oh never mind." Ayeka said flattly. Noboyuki looked at Ayeka curiously for a moment before he noticed the plate of rice crackers on the coffee table.
"Hey. Do you mind if I have one? I'm starving." Noboyuki asked. Sasami was handing the plate to Noboyuki when the front door flew open. Washu blazed towards her lab door.
"Excuse me Noboyuki." Washu blurted as she shoved Noboyuki over the couch. Rice crackers flew in every direction. Washu whipped open the door to her lab then dashed inside. Tenchi sped through the front door with Ryoko in his arms then disappeared into Washu's lab before the last cracker hit the ground.
"What was that about?" Noboyuki asked.
"Please get off me. You are really heavy." Mihoshi managed to say from underneath Noboyuki.
"Sorry." Noboyuki apologized as he jumped up.
"Was Tenchi carrying Ryoko?" Sasami asked. Everyone looked at one another. They all sprang to their feet and ran for Washu's lab. Unfortunately, the door locked behind Tenchi.
"What's wrong with Ryoko?" Sasami asked.
"I don't know, Sasami." Ayeka answered.
More to come.