The Wanderer

Wahsu: To her love was something scientific: You could easily pin-point the chemical influxes in the brain that react to an outside stimulus (i.e. pheromones produced by the other desired mate) which causes a chemical reaction known as Love.

Akeya: To her love was structured: Two people are destined to be with each other. To meet, to fall in love, to marry, to have children, to grow old together, and to watch their children enter the love cycle.

Sasuami: To her love was a recipe: All there needs to be is the right ingredients and the right amount of patience. Simple, but too many people try and complicate love. And when you do that, before you know it, the oven's on fire!

Mihoshi: To her love was an accident: You can lay out the best made plan to get what you want, but life will always find a way to surprise you. So it's better to just sit back and see where life takes you.

Ryoko: To her love was the quintessence of freedom: Your heart sits in a cell waiting for your lover to appear with the key. Then when you're free, you're not bound by anything or anyone. Why should you be?

Noyuobi: To him love was physical as well as spiritual: The heart is surrounded by flesh and one must have an appreciation of the flesh before anyone can fall in love. But once you're in love with someone, no one else will be able to compete.

Yosho: To him love was bittersweet: You can forsake it, but it will always find a way to grasp your heart again; no matter how hard you try and say to yourself, "I'll never fall in love again."

Tenchi: To him…to him. Well to be honest he didn't know what love was.

Dark cumulonimbus clouds towered before the tranquil Okayama region in Japan. Growing in size, these dark giants moved with no sense of urgency closer to the region in question. The weather man, on channel four, expected there to be an eighty-seven percent chance of thunderstorms occurring around late evening and to continue until early in the morning. The inhabitants of the Masaki household however, went to bed ignorant of this development. But as the night dragged on flashes of light could be seen, and distant rumbles of thunder could be heard. Pouring rain happened on the house first, blanketing it under sheets of water, causing slight stirrings on a few of the sleeping inhabits. Closer and closer it came, until suddenly the house was flooded with light and mere moments later the home was engulfed in the overwhelming boom of thunder.

Tenchi opened his eyes quickly and scanned his room startled by the noise. He blinked a few times and he heard the soft repetitious sound of the rain on the roof. His eyes closed hypnotized by melody and sleep was about to reclaim him when again lightening struck with the deafening thunderclap following at its heels. Tenchi sighed hitting his head against the pillow. Nothing else to do he waited until lightening flared up again and counted the seconds before he could hear thunder. It proved quickly useless, because there was little time in between the light flare and the sound of thunder. And what were the rules again? Every three second it was a mile away or was it every second it was three miles again. Sighing, he decided that it probably doesn't matter if there was not a lot of seconds separating them. Again his eyes closed, but he was rudely interrupted by the clamorous noise. His hands went up to his eyes to try and rub the sleep away as he shifted his body to a sitting position. His eyes drifted to his clock and with it blinking midnight over and over again that proved futile. Yawning he got up from his warm bed and went downstairs to get some water. Tenchi let his feet guide him as his eyes were still closed. Instinctually as his foot reached the stairs his hand went up to grasp the rail, and he walked slowly down not wanting to open his eyes. Over head rain continued to pour and occasionally the choice weapon of Zeus would strike the Earth causing the accursed boom to follow. Opening his eyes when he reached the bottom of the steps, Tenchi led himself over to the kitchen. Reaching the destination Tenchi grabbed a glass from the cabinet, and walked over to the sink and turned the cold water on. Lazily his eyes looked out the window and he saw water dripping from the window quickly.

That's good he thought sleepily, at least it will be done sooner.

Yawning again, he walked over to the table and sat down. He brought the glass to his lips and drank slowly, not wanting to rush it. After taking a small drink he put the glass down to the table, and closed his eyes half-way not focusing on anything in particular. Light flooded the dining room area and second's later thunder could be heard. Tenchi redoubled his efforts to remember the rule when a sound interrupted his thought process. The sound of footsteps, while compared to the thunder was like trying to compare toothpicks to red wood trees, were still loud enough to be heard in the otherwise silent dining area. Sighing, Tenchi turned his head and he saw that it was a woman that was approaching him. Now that wasn't surprising since woman outnumber men in this house hold three to one, but in the dark (and with his eyes more closed then open) he couldn't tell who it was. Shaking his head he picked up his glass and drank from it again quicker this time to try and return to his room. Lightening decided to make his appearance known again and soon illuminated the room again. After about six or seven seconds thunder could be heard, but more distantly this time. Tenchi nodded to himself thinking that he'll be able to get to sleep easier now, when he felt a hand rustle up his hair. Startled Tenchi attempted to break away from the contact but ended up only leaning against the aggressor in the first place. Opening his eyes widely he saw the smiling face of Ryoko lording over him.

She rose her eyebrows up and chuckled slightly before saying, "Couldn't sleep either?"

Tenchi sighed, straighten up his body, and took another drink finishing his water before hoarsely replying, "Nah, storm woke me up. Planning on going back to bed soon."

"Ah I see," Ryoko said before sitting next to him, "Want me to join you?"

Tenchi just looked over to her sleepily but filled with meaning, which she sheepishly replied, "I guess not."

Nodding in agreement Tenchi again closed his eyes. He was not going to enjoy the chores in the morning if he couldn't get to sleep soon. Opening his eyes slightly he looked around for a clock. Upon not seeing one he asked Ryoko what time it was.

"Um, I'm not sure," she replied, before thinking carefully, "here let me find out."

She then faded out of existence with a familiar sound and seconds later she returned with a small smile on her face. "It is," she said waving her hand in front of her, happy that she could do something helpful to Tenchi, "12:00 blinking."

Tenchi hung his head, and said annoyed, "That's ok, I didn't really need to know anyway."

Ryoko raised her eyebrow at him, confused asked, "Did I do something wrong?"

Using his hand to support him, he shook his head weakly answering, "No, all the clocks are going to say that because of the storm."

"That's good, I'd hate for you to be mad at me."

Tenchi smiled good-naturedly and turned his head towards her and said, "I couldn't stay mad at any of you girls for too long anyway."

With a great effort Tenchi stood up, and looked down to where Ryoko was sitting, "Well I think I'm going to go back to bed. I'm pretty tired."

Yawning for effect, Ryoko replied, "I think I will too. But you do look tired, get some rest handsome."

Too tired to blush, Tenchi just nodded absent mindedly and said, "G'night."

"Good night Tenchi."

Using his feet again as his guide Tenchi found the stairs and he reached up to grab the rail. Each foot rested a moment on the stair before reaching up that impossible distance to the next stair. Feeling as if lead weights were tied to his shoulders and head, Tenchi fought with each step until he eventually reached, with Herculean effort, his room. Opening the door he shuffled to his bed and plopped down on it unceremoniously. Rolling until he was on his back, he got under the covers and rested his head on his pillow. By Morpheus's will, Tenchi drifted off to sleep.

Ryoko sat at the table a little longer and heard Tenchi go up the stairs. Smiling she grabbed his glass and faded into the kitchen. Disposing of the dish in the sink, her eyes lazily looked out the window and saw the rain drops slowly slide down the window pane.

That's too bad she thought musingly it was over too quick

She sighed happily for being able to be alone with Tenchi, even if it was just for a few moments. Ryoko remembered the brief contact they had and smiled fondly. Chuckling slightly she decided that she would watch him sleep again. Fading slightly behind and above her she found her self hovering over Tenchi. He was as tired as he looked, and looked like he was already in a deep sleep. She smiled, tentatively brushing a stray hair out of his face. Upon the contact he inhaled deeply, almost making Ryoko having to make a quick get away, but Tenchi didn't wake up and Ryoko could stay a little longer staring at him. Resting her chin on the palm of her hand she continued to imagine what the future would hold for the both of them. Distantly she heard the thunder recede and brief flashes of light.

More to come in the next few days-Not yet