The Seventh Moon Gate

By Kalika-Chan

Disclaimer: I do not own Tenchi Muyo or any of its characters. And the rest.. you know it

Note: This is Not your regular Tenchi fic. This is way different. Remember that this story isn't based on Tenchi finding Ryoko in a cave or at the crash site. There is no Ayeka, Sasami, or Mihoshi. Happy reading.

"-spoken

'-Thinking

--Chapter One--

A Blessed Meeting

Masaki Tenchi sighed as he shut his locker before heading to homeroom. School wasn't the same anymore. It seemed to him the older he got, the more boring school gets. He wanted more time to do other stuff. Everyday he was slacking. Everyday he was a little bit lazier. He heard the chatter of students in the hallway behind him. Why couldn't he be like them? Always talking and hanging out with their friends. It wasn't that he didn't have friends, he did, but they weren't like him. They were.so carefree. They didn't have anything to worry about in their life. They were normal. Gathering his books, he headed to homeroom.

What he saw before his eyes stopped him. A girl, about 19 (his age), was getting books out of her locker. He watched as she pulled her cyan hair away from her face. She was breathtaking. This new girl had golden- yellow eyes, spiky, long, cyan hair down to her waist, and little fangs peeking out of her mouth that he found madly attractive. She was tall, had a voluptuous body, and smooth cheeks. The faintest blush of lipstick was on her full lips. Suddenly, her books fell as she closed her locker. She bent down to pick them up as students hurried around her, guys looking her way. Tenchi walked forward and quickly bent down beside her to help her with her books.

"Thanks." She said smiling.

Tenchi blushed and muttered something. His hand bumped into hers. He turned red as she piled the books in her arms. "Thanks a lot." She says again, tucking an inch of hair over her ear. They both stood up and she turned toward him.

"Nahh.you're welcome.you new here?"

"Yeah, today's my first day. I know a few people here."

"That's great. I would hate to go to a new school where I don't know anybody." Tenchi smiled at her and tucked his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah, but I guess it's not so bad. You meet new people."

"Right, and old people." Tenchi joked. Ryoko laughed. She was perfect.

"My name's Ryoko. It's nice to find someone as kind as you on a first day."

Tenchi blushed again, one hand rubbing the back of his head. He couldn't bring himself to look at her. "Ryoko? That's a beautiful name. Mine's Tenchi. Masaki Tenchi." He brought his hand out to shake hers. She took it gently and squeezed. Her skin was so soft and for a moment he imaged her against him. Tenchi shook the image out of his mind. 'Hentai!' he scolded himself silently.

"Heaven and earth." She thought for a moment. "That's cool. I like your name too." They both laughed and the bell rang. Tenchi had hoped to talk a little longer. Ryoko seemed to want to, too.

"Well, I hope I can find my classes alright. I can't even find my homeroom!" She laughed again. Tenchi laughed with her and asked to see her classes. She gave it to him to look at. Immediately he noticed they were not in any classes this marking period. 'Man, I was really hoping to see her again.'

"We don't have any classes together this marking period, but it looks like we have Math together next marking period. Here, your homeroom is in 134B, which is right there on the corner." He lifted his finger and pointed that way.

"Ok, thanks! See ya!" Ryoko walked toward the open door of her homeroom as she waved bye. She turned around to see him still standing there. Giving him a small wink, she watched as he started to blush again. She giggled and resumed walking.

Tenchi wiped the sweat that had gathered on his forehead. Ryoko was so much.. he wanted her. He had known that the moment he saw her. He dreamed about her. Hopefully she wasn't taken, but a girl like that wasn't going to be single long. Second bell rang. He was already late. The hallways were still packed full of tardy students rushing to get to class. Tenchi was almost skipping to homeroom. His mind focused only on Ryoko.

**********

She stood alone in a red barren desert. Her hair was incredibly noticeable. The wind was strong that day. It blew her hair back, like waves of flowing water. The desert itself was dry, completely covered in dust, red dust. It was like a living hell. The temperature was high too, even though she wasn't sweating. She started to disappear, her body becoming more transparent every second.

"No! Don't go!" Tenchi shouted, running toward her. She vanished before he got there. "No.no, it can't be." he whisper quietly. Tenchi stopped where she was last seen. He looked around for her, but he knew she was gone. His only love.she was gone. He had done everything, but they took his Ryoko away. He didn't trust them anymore. He didn't want to befriend them. He just wanted Ryoko back. He just wanted to be happy.

"Come back! Come back! I need you! Please, help me Tenchi. Help! I love you! Please come!" A voice far away called out to Tenchi.

"Ryoko? Is that you? Where are you!" He shouted in the direction of her voice.

"I'm here! Please come get me, my love! I love you!" Her voice had started to fade. Tenchi ran in the direction where he had last heard her. She loved him. She loved him. She loved him. That was all he could think. He needed to get her back. He was so lost without her.

Tenchi stumbled and fell; landing sprawled across the dry, warm ground. He gasped air into his lungs, trying to purge the stench of death that seemed embedded in his mouth, nose, and lungs. He felt a hand on the back of his head and rolled instantly to the side, snarling and bearing his teeth. It was Ryoko. She was wearing her everyday clothes and looking down at him. Smile. It wasn't her smile. He had almost reached up to hug and kiss her, but he watched as she smiled. It wasn't his Ryoko. She was an imposter. The fake Ryoko extended a hand to help Tenchi up. Still smiling. Tenchi jerked away. "No! You're not her! You're not my Ryoko! Stop this!" He got up and stood before her, seething in anger.

She looked so hurt when he backed away that her had second thoughts. Maybe she was real. Maybe nothing's real. Everything's a fake. The whole world, him.all fantasies. 'What am I doing here? What have a done to deserve this? Why take Ryoko away from me?!'

He slowly backed away. "You're' not Ryoko.you're not. You're a monster. You took my Ryoko away! I'll kill you! I'll kill you to avenge her! You will not win! You hear me?!"

She turned ugly. He could clearly see she was no longer Ryoko. Instead, a monster took her place. Her skin was black; her red tongue came out. He saw the blood drip from her lips. He saw the thirsty look in her eyes.

She spoke in a snake-like voice; "You will never see Ryoko again. Never! I forbid it! This is the way of the godsss! You cannot counter them. Usss!" She started to laugh. Throwing her head back and flying in the sky. She disappeared as well.

"Oh, Tenchi! Please come help! I'm lost! I don't know where I am! I love you! Tenchi!" This time, the real Ryoko called out to him.

"Ryoko! I hear you! But I can't see you! I promise to find you! Wait for me! Please! I love you too, Yoko!" He yelled at the top of his lungs one last time; "I love you!"

**********

"Masaki!" Mr. Yu rapped Tenchi's desk twice. The class giggled. Tenchi slowly opened his eyes as his 7th hour classroom came into view. He realized he was at school. And he had fallen asleep.

"What? Oh! Sensei, gomen nasai. I fell asleep. I-I-What was the question?" He sat up calmly and looked up at his angry teacher. He had his arms crossed and eyebrow furrowed. Tenchi slouched just the slightest bit at his teacher's look.

"Welcome back to math class, Mr. Masaki. You're just in time for the end. See me when everyone leaves." With that he walked back to his desk. The class "Oohhh-ed!" Tenchi was a guy that never got in trouble. He didn't want to start now, on his senior year. Mr. Yu started to talk about their History homework for the day. Tenchi hardly heard him. He was day dreaming again. He thought of Ryoko as he looked out the window. Some students were already dismissed. Lucky them. They didn't have to worry about doing extra chores for Ojii-sama Yosho after school. He knew beening a priest's grandson was hard, but he had to accept the fact that he would also be a priest one-day. Tenchi didn't really hate it, but there were times when he felt like giving up, tired of chores and praying. Ojii-sama would eventually die and Tenchi will have to take over the business. Priests don't earn that much money, so he would have to depend on another part-time job as well. The old shrine at their house dates back to the 700's, passed from generation to generation. It was.destiny.

Mr. Yu was still talking. Tenchi heard as if he was underwater, not clearly or understandable.

"Hey, Masaki! Wake up! You look like you're in the Twilight zone or something!" One of his friends, Aki, whispered to him on his left.

"Yeah, I'm pretty tired today. Didn't get much sleep last night. I'll talk to you later." The bell rang at that moment and Mr. Yu opened the door to let the students out.

Tenchi carried his books to Mr. Yu's desk.

"Please, have a seat." He gestured to an empty chair when all the kids had left. Tenchi sat down nearby.

"Chocolate?" He offered, holding out a bar.

"No, no thanks." Tenchi waved his hand off.

"Ok, if you're sure."

"I-I'm sure." He couldn't understand why Mr. Yu was so nice to him after what had happened in class.

"Well, I guess you're wondering why I asked to talk to you." Mr. Yu folded his hands together and looked at his student.

"Uh.not really.." Tenchi mumbled.

"What's that?" He leaned closer to hear better.

"I-I said I wasn't t-that surprise when you wanted to talk to me. Because I fell asleep in class, I mean."

"Let me tell you something, I am nice. I may not act nice with other kids simply because I want them to behave. Now, I know pretty well, and I know you are capable of doing a whole lot better than you are now."

"I.I'm really busy.. you know, with the shrine and.stuff." Tenchi chuckled nervously. Mr. Yu was one of his favorite teachers, but he didn't want him on his case. He knew sensei would be disappointed to hear he wasn't doing his work.

"I understand, but you've stopped trying. You use to be one of the top students in class and now you're one of the worst. What's happening, Tenchi? Maybe I can help."

'No, no you can't nobody can. I just.want out. I don't feel like doing school anymore. I know I can do better, but I don't want to. I-can't explain it. Not yet, anyway.' Tenchi thought. He almost said them, but instead, he answered with an uncomfortable "I'm not getting sleep. I'm tired and crouchy. I think all I need is good sleep."

Mr. Yu sighed. "Ok. Be sure to get plenty of rest tonight. You have a test tomorrow. You may leave now."

"Thanks, Mr. Yu." Heading for the door, Tenchi practically ran away. He couldn't wait to see Ryoko again. His keen eyes searched the halls and her locker for a glimpse of blue hair, but nothing gave away.

"Masaki!" Somebody shouted his name. He turned around. It was Aki.

"Hey! There you are!" He greeted him.

"Man, what's happening to you? You were distant today. Something I should know about?" He grinned.

"Dude, I just saw the hottest girl this morning." Tenchi became excited about Ryoko. He hoped Aki wouldn't know her yet so he could introduce them.

"Long, spiky, cyan hair? Yellow eyes? Tall? Right there?" Aki grinned again. He pointed in Ryoko's direction. She was coming toward them.

"Yeah! How'd you know?" So much for introductions.

"She's my girlfriend." Aki laughed as Ryoko walked up to them. Those last 3 words stopped Tenchi cold. Ryoko's taken? No! That's not fair. She was the one thing that was going right in his life.

"Hi, guys! Aki." She turned toward her boyfriend and kissed him. Tenchi turned away so not to look.

"So, stay away, dude. See ya!" They walked away. Ryoko had her arm linked with Aki's. She turned around and winked at him just like that morning. She mouthed the word "bye". She and Aki blended in with the rest of the student body as they headed outside. Tenchi stood still. He didn't feel like moving. Ryoko was his.only his.why?



A/N: In case you're wondering, Moon Gates are Chinese. They were used in the old days and there is still some left in parts of China. They're very beautiful and round shaped. Also, in Japan, they go to school 2 years later than we do in the U.S. That's why Tenchi is 19 and still in high school. Look for the next chapter soon!