Tenchi! Chapter 1 - No Need for Pride

Author: Ryoko-chan

Email: _Ryoko_@masakishrine.com

Rating: PG

Summary: Tenchi and Sasami try to help Ryoko with her memory while Washu suffers from the faults in science and her own limitations.

Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo! is the property of Pioneer Entertainment, AIC, and TV Tokyo along with the people who created the characters and gave them life by lending their voices to them. I have absolutely no claim to them.

Author's' note: I have really liked writing this story. I have gotten really good responses about this series, which was actually my first venture into Tenchi Muyo! fanfiction. I had only planned on writing four chapters but it has extended to 16 now...lol, this is my 17th. Its been fun and its gonna be hard to wrap up this series. Only 4 chapters to go.
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TENCHI! CHAPTER 1 - NO NEED FOR PRIDE
By: Ryoko-chan

What has been happening? I'll admit, my life hasn't been normal since Ryoko and the others arrived on earth, but I never thought it would stay like this. I just figured that eventually everything would just settle down and we all would live a normal life.

Now I'm pretty sure that's just not possible. Ryoko has too many enemies, Aeka has too many Jurain problems, and Washu is still Washu. Our group is down by two now, as well and I know that it is my fault. Well, maybe its like Washu said, its not all my fault, but looking at Ryoko now, you can't blame her for anything. Not even Aeka can.

Ryoko's undergone a major change in the past couple of months and although I know that its not her choosing, the change is there all the same. Now, Washu says that she has amnesia. She reminds me of Sasami and Mihoshi thrown into one. Not as clumsy as Mihoshi was, of course. But she has her innocence now.

As far as she's concerned right now, she never experienced the horror of killing all of those people or the pain of Kagato's discipline. She has a clean slate now but like Washu says, she needs to know that pain and horror if we're to ever get our Ryoko back.

"Come join us, Tenchi." Sasami says, sitting at the table with Aeka and Ryoko.

"What are you doing?" I ask, sitting down next to Ryoko.

It's extremely strange to sit next to Ryoko and not get my airway cut off by her squeezing arms. I never thought there'd be a day when I missed that. Ryoko just seems to fragile now to think that she would have *ever* done anything like that.

"Sasami wants to show Ryoko how to play checkers." Aeka explains to me, smiling slightly.

Aeka's been great about everything. She's been trying to help Ryoko remember things about everyone in the house. She's never brought up her past with Ryoko though, under strict orders (and threats) from Washu. I'm sure the last thing Aeka would want is Washu performing her tests on her.

"Yeah, it'll be great. Its been awhile since I've played it. Since..." Sasami says, trailing off after a look from Aeka.

This was the game that Sasami usually played with Mihoshi...

"What's wrong?" Ryoko asks, watching Aeka and Sasami, then looking over at me.

"Nothing's wrong, Ryoko. Watch Aeka and me play first, then we'll play, all right?" Sasami says, switching to her overly cheery voice.

Ryoko only nods, knowing that something is being hidden from her. She glances over at me and sighs. I only frown and watch Aeka and Sasami start their game.

After Ryoko and Sasami play about five games of checkers, Ryoko got tired of losing to Sasami and gave in. Sasami, happy with her victories went to start dinner. Aeka had already left to go upstairs so it was only Ryoko and me sitting at the table. I stay quiet, not exactly sure what to say to her.

"Tenchi?"

"Yes, Ryoko? What is it?"

"Tell me the truth, Tenchi..."

I look around nervously. I can't lie to her if she asks me something directly, but Washu says it could hurt her more if I tell her the truth.

"Why is everyone treating me like this, Tenchi? Why do the treat me like I'm a child? Conversations stop when I step into a room, people stop in mid sentences. I can't take it anymore, Tenchi. Why is everyone doing this?"

I sigh quietly.

"Ryoko, don't worry about anything. Everyone just wants you to remember everything on your own. That's why they stop conversations like that. It would be better for you to remember everything, not be told everything." I say, hoping that the explanation would be enough for her right now.

"Tenchi, I did something, didn't I?"

"What do you mean, Ryoko?"

"That's why nobody is telling me my past. Its bad, isn't it?"

"Ryoko, whatever happened in your past, it shaped you into the person that we know and love now."

"And I'm not that person anymore, Tenchi. I don't even remember her."

I nod, not saying anything.

"I think I'm going to lay down for a while. I'll see you at dinner, Tenchi." She says, getting up and walking upstairs.

"Yo, Tenchi! Come in here please!" I hear Washu calling me from the hallway.

"I'll be right there, Little Washu." I say, getting up and walking into her laboratory.

"What is it Washu? Have you found something?"

"Actually, I have. But that's not why I called you in here."

"Then why did you call me in here, Washu?"

"Come here, Tenchi. Look at this."

I walk up behind her, looking at her computer screen.

"What is this, Washu?"

"This is Ryoko's DNA."

"O...k. Why am I looking at this, Washu?"

"This is why Tenchi." She punches a few buttons on her computer.

The model of Ryoko's DNA glows suddenly and changes shape. I blink, turning toward Washu.

"OK...what was I just watching, Washu."

She sighs impatiently.

"I traced Ryoko's life form data back to the time when Sasami found her by the lake to now. Her DNA has changed. That is why she doesn't remember her past. She's been mutated."

"By what?"

"The glowing you saw? That was the point when the gems activated themselves in Ryoko's body."

"So the gems mutated Ryoko's DNA?"

"Yes, I thought that she would still be able phase through objects and fly, but she can't. The mutation has changed her DNA completely. The only thing the same about Ryoko is her outward appearance. If those gems had stayed in her body any longer her outer appearance probably would have changed as well."

"Well, what do we do about it, Washu?"

"There's only one thing that I can think of Tenchi, but it is dangerous to everyone. Give her back the gems."

"But how would that reverse the mutation? Wouldn't that make it worse? I mean, you just said that if the gems had been in her body any longer..."

"I know, Tenchi. But that's the only thing I can think of right now. I'm still working on this, Tenchi. I'm not suggesting that we do it that way. I was just giving you the options."

Washu sighs as she turns off her computer screen.

"There's one other thing, Tenchi."

"What is it, Washu?"

"I need you to do something for me. I need you to keep an eye on Ryoko tonight. I would do it, but I'm working on this sequence."

"But why, Washu?"

"Its just a feeling I have. I think that she might be trying to regain her memory herself. There is the mutation, but it wasn't complete in her mind. The only thing that is completely gone is her phasing and flying ability. Monitor her dreams for me, Tenchi. I know that the girl talks in her sleep."

"I don't know, Washu. Sneaking into her room while she's asleep..."

"Tenchi, just think of all the times she's done it to you."

"She's not the same anymore, Washu."

"Tenchi, please. I need your help. Do this for Ryoko."

I sigh. I really don't want to spy on Ryoko all night. Sure, she's done it to me plenty of times, but if I did that now she'd just think I was a pervert.

"Tenchi, I need your decision. Otherwise I will ask Aeka, but I just think that if she does happen to awaken while you're in there, she would be more at ease."

"What do you mean? Why would she more relaxed finding me in her bedroom in the middle of the night?"

"Haven't you noticed how much she's taken up with you since she awoke from her coma, Tenchi? She talks to you about everything. She has the same feelings for you as she had before, only its rooted more in trust than in lust."

I only look at her. I hadn't noticed that Ryoko had been confiding in me so much. I just figured that she was curious about what was going on. I never thought that she was aware of the feelings she had for me previously.

"What do you say, Tenchi?" Washu asks, leaning her head on her hand.

She looks tired, she probably hasn't slept since before Mihoshi's funeral.

"All right, Little Washu."

"Great. Thanks Tenchi. Come see me after Ryoko goes to bed and I'll give you what you need, OK?"

"All right." I say, walking back into the hallway.

I go into the living room and lie down on the couch. I really didn't want to do this. Why on earth did I agree? Washu always has some way of talking me into doing things for her. I don't know how she does it. She is the greatest scientist in the universe, she probably has a little machine or something.

"Tenchi, wake up. You're hogging the couch." Ryoko says, pushing me feet off of the couch before I wake up.

"Ryoko? Wake time is it?"

"Its almost dinner time, Sasami wanted me to come and wake you up. So, wake up." She says, smiling.

"All right, I'm awake. You didn't need to throw me off the couch." I say, standing up.

"I didn't!" She says defensively.

"Come on, Ryoko! Tenchi! Dinnertime!" Sasami says impatiently from the kitchen.

We walk to the table.

"Where is everyone else?" Ryoko asks.

"They're coming. Just sit down." Sasami says sharply. Then she smiles. "Dinner's just about ready."

I sigh, leaning against the wall.

"Is something wrong, Tenchi?" Ryoko asks me, eating a piece of bread from the basket in the center of the table.

"No, not at all."

"Good." She says, smiling.

Finally, Aeka, Dad, Grampa, Washu, and Sasami sit down at the table and we all start to eat dinner. I look around the table slowly glancing at the faces of my remaining family and I smile to myself. I just wish Kione and Mihoshi were here to share it with us.

After dinner everyone sat around watching TV until one by one everyone started off to bed. Finally Ryoko went off to bed and I went into Washu's lab to pick up whatever it was that she was going to give me.

"Ryoko finally went to bed, Tenchi?" Washu asks, yawning.

"Yeah, finally." I say, glancing at the clock. It was just after midnight.

"Well, then. Take this, Tenchi." She says, handing me a flashlight and a small box. "Put the box under Ryoko's bed. It is attuned to her brainwaves so it should pick up on them rather quickly."

"Then what?"

"Then, wait. It is also tuned to your's, Tenchi. You'll see her dreams."

"What about this?" I say, holding the flashlight up.

"That is so you don't trip over anything in Ryoko's room. Now get going, Tenchi!" She says.

I sigh and leave the room, going upstairs to Ryoko's room the box and flashlight in my hand.

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~End Chapter 1 of Part 5~
My shoulder hurts SO much!
Sorry...I'm just complaining. I'm falling apart!

Ok, you people are really slacking on the reviews!

Next Chapter:
Tenchi! Chapter 2 - No Need for Sentimental Rubbish

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