Disclaimer: I am poor. So most sensibly I don't own Tenchi Muyo or any other Tenchi show. AIC and Pioneer owns it, not me. And damn them all for not finishing the OVA's and damn Toonami for censoring it as heavily as they did.
Okay to set things straight, I absolutely adore the Tenchi Muyo OVA series. So I'm going to use the Tenchi in Tokyo storyline but all the characters are as they were on Tenchi Muyo. Which means Tenchi released Ryoko from the cave, Grandpa is Prince Yosho Ayeka's half-brother, Sasami is assimilated with Tsunami, Tenchi has sword Tenchi which has two of three of Ryoko's gems. Washu is Ryoko's mother and Ryo-oki belongs to Ryoko! (How in the hell could they do that on Tenchi in Tokyo?! Ryo-oki belonging to Sasami. HA! That pissed me off for days). But Kiyone is here! (Hooray!)
Chapter 1
Another Tear For Hotsuma.
Ryoko sat under the waxen full moon with Ryo-oki on one side and a bottle of saki on the other.
It had been a full three months since Tenchi returned from Tokyo, three months since the Yugi incident, three and a half months since he spurred everyone one for Sakuya. Three and a half months since him and their escapades in space.
Now it was all over. Yugi was asleep now, resting someplace in Washu's lab. When Ryoko had found out that they had placed her in the cave, her cave, she hit the roof. Even thought she wasn't very warm towards that place it was hers, for it held some good memories for her. And for years people had come to hear the story about her, the demon that was resting there and she wasn't about to hand it over to Yugi even if she has changed. The only people in the Masaki residence who understood was Grandfather (Yosho) and her mother Washu. It was those two who came up with the solution to keep her safe in the lab.
Ryoko sighed as she took another gulp of saki. Ryo-oki stopped gnawing at at her chilled carrot and looked up at Ryoko.
Although it seemed everything returned to normal Ryoko was far from feeling normal. She still napped most of the day and stayed up a good deal of the night. But before she was afraid to sleep at night, now it was because she had to think. She still inhaled her share of five servings of Sasami's magnificent meals, and she still drank saki as if it were water. And when she watched the soaps her mind would wonder much like Mihoshi. She would sit there and think about the joys she had in space with...with Hotsuma. Ryoko just wasn't the same.
Sure she still clung to Tenchi and purred suggestive ideas into his ears. But it wasn't the same. Sometimes she would be so laced in her thoughts she would walk by Tenchi and not even notice his presents. Even her fights with Ayeka changed. Of course they still argued but no physical blows were exchanged. There was even a time Ryoko just shrugged off Ayeka (much to the surprise of everyone).
Everyone came to an agreement that Ryoko had matured greatly over the past months.
They only one who knew the truth was her 'mother' Washu.
Ryoko was so engrossing in her thought that she didn't hear Tenchi step onto the porch and stand behind her.
"Ryoko." Tenchi called tapping her on the shoulder.
Out of reflexes she jumped into the air and created her energy saber.
"Tenchi! What the hell is the matter with you sneaking up on people like that?!" She demanded distinguishing the saber.
"Sorry Ryoko." Tenchi laughed. "I came down for a little snack when I noticed you were out here. It being 2 A.M. I thought you would perhaps like some company." Tenchi said.
Ryoko reclaimed her spot on the porch steps and grabbed her saki. Tenchi sat beside her.
"Um Kiyone told me you went back to piracy while I was gone." Tenchi began.
Neither of them looked at the other. Ryoko stared at the stars while Tenchi focused on the lake.
"And I suppose you're going to chide me for it." Ryoko said unperturbedly as she poured herself another cup of saki.
"And Mihoshi told me who you went with." Tenchi went on as if Ryoko hadn't spoken.
"The gossip." Ryoko chuckled under her breath.
"When I went to Lil' Washu to ask if she knew anything about it-" Tenchi stopped when he saw Ryoko's wide eyes staring at him as if he had lost his mind.
"You willingly went into Washu's lab?" She asked as if he had done the most densest thing to date.
Tenchi began to scratch behind his neck. "Yeah, it was foolish of me. The second I stepped through the door I was naked and strapped down to a table.
Ryoko would have laughed if not for her own experience in Washu's cold, dark lab.
Tenchi went on, "When she was finished with me she literally threw me out and tossed this out along with me." Tenchi said producing a small square that looked a lot like a makeup compact. He sat it down beside her awaiting for her curiosity to get the best of her.
However it wasn't Ryoko who took interest in the thing. Ryo-oki had stopped in mid-nibble and began to inspect the little compact.
It doesn't look like a carrot She sniffed at it. Doesn't smell like a carrot. She batted at it. Doesn't feel like a carrot
"Ryo-oki it's not a carrot." Ryoko said before Ryo-oki broke something during her investigations.
Two late, Chop! Eck! doesn't taste like a carrot. That has to be the worst carrot I've ever come across. Ryo-oki thought. With a disappointed miya she knocked the devise away from her and went back to her carrot.
"I told you it wasn't a carrot. It's a pixel holographic player with high definite 3-D features." Ryoko said picking up the device and looking it over. "Mom's been working on improving these."
"Huh?" Tenchi stared at Ryoko. He knew that Ryoko was exceedingly smart. She is, after all, the daughter of the greatest scientific genius in the universe. But it always astounded him to see her display her genius.
"Think of it as a miniature TV and VCR or DVD attached." Ryoko simplified as she opened the case and pressed the small orange button.
A scene began where Ryoko, dressed in one of her pirate outfits, walked along side Hotsuma as they left another bank with all of its money.
"Washu must have hacked into the Galaxy Police records and got this recording." Ryoko smiled warmly.
She noticed how happy they both looked. And it looked as if she was having the greatest time of her life. Then a moment happened that she remembered well, Hotsuma pulled her close and their lips met.
Ryoko remembered that day, she remembered that kiss.
Ryoko closed her hand into a fist almost crushing the holographic player. "Damn Hotsuman! What a jerk he turned out to be. How did I ever fall for such trash?" She asked no one.
Tenchi didn't answer. "Ryoko." Tenchi said as he stood.
Ryoko's golden eyes focused on the moon, "Yes Tenchi?" She asked not turning in his direction.
"Um...don't stay up too late drinking." He said going in.
Ryoko knew Tenchi wanted to say something more about Hotsuma but didn't wish to bother her with it tonight.
"Ryo-oki, go on and sleep with Sasami tonight." Ryoko said as she drifting into the air then vanished.
Ryo-oki began to run into the house but collided headfirst into the glass sliding door. Ryo-oki shook away the double visions then successfully phased through.
"Meow!" Ryo-oki called at Washu's door. A small pet door opened premitting her inside.
Washu stood near a large robot with a picture on it's face of Mihoshi with a red slash through it.
"This should keep that bubble brain from destroying my experiments ever again." She smiled as she typed madly on her transparent laptop.
"Yes Ryo-oki?" Washu asked not lacking an inch of her work. Whenever Washu was in the middle of a major project she rarely ate and only put in an hour or two of sleep.
Ryo-oki began to mayi the earlier events.
"Ryoko went off to be alone after Tenchi showed her that recording? Um." Washu actually paused long enough to listen.
"Mayi mew-mayi!"
That got Washu's attention. "She went without her saki?!" She asked with her eyes the size of saucers. Ryo-oki nodded.
"Huh...this calls for some investigation and my I-Spy X500. The ultimate maternal monitor!" She said madly as she tossed Ryo-oki a carrot.
Washu held a giant metallic eye proudly above her head. "This baby will find Little Ryoko in a matter of milliseconds. And not only will it transmit what she does and says but also what she thinks!" She manically laughed. A streak of lightening strikes a few feet behind her and Ryo-oki appears by her side wearing a lab coat and goggles while holding to her half eaten carrot. She too begins to laugh (mayi) like Washu.
"Okay let's go." Washu pressed a large button on her laptop and the I-Spy flew away.
No sooner had it left Washu caused several plump floor cushions to appear in front of her second largest display screen which didn't have complicated calculations all over it. Most of the larger equipment slid into a space pocket to create more room. With a quick adjustment of a knob to the appropriate channel, the large screen flashed from the floating onsen, to Ryoko's rafter, to Tenchi's bedroom ; ) to the I-Spy's camera.
They gasped at were the I-Spy found Ryoko. "I don't believe it! She's in the cave!" Washu exclaimed.
Yes, Ryoko had not only walked into the cave, but she went pass the entrance and deep inside, to the tomb with the pale glowing pool she had lain for 700 years.
She laid on her stomach at the very edge of the pool with a lantern to fight away the darkness.
Ryoko traced her fingers over the cold water. This is why she wouldn't allow Yugi to rest in he cave. Like Washu went to her lab for sanctuary she went to the cave. It would have killed her to see Tenchi coming to visit Yugi here as he had done for her before. It would hurt because she knew he was still pining over Sakuya, but Sakuya was gone, back into the shadows of Yugi. Gone, gone, gone...just like Hotsuma.
Words! Words!
How did it happen that we quarreled?
We two who loved each other so!
Only the moment before we were one,
Using the language that lovers know.
And then of a sudden, a word, a phrase
That struck at the heart like a poignard's blow.
And you went berserk, and I saw red,
And love lay between us, bleeding and dead!
Dead! When we'd loved each other so!
How could it happen that we quarreled!
Think of the things we used to say!
"What does it matter, dear, what you do?
Love such as ours has to last for aye!"
--"Try me! I long to endure your test!"
--"Love, we shall always love, come what may!"
What are the words the apostle saith?
"In the power of the tongue are Life and Death!"
Think of the things we used to say!
-Jessie Redmon Fauset
That poem seemed perfect to describe what happened between Hotsuma and herself.
When she had saw Tenchi and Sakuya together she knew his decision was made. She was sort of prepared for the day Tenchi chose Ayeka or one of the other girls but not that. She was far from prepared for what she saw. Each cell in her body screamed along with her broken heart while the rest of her remained in a numb shock.
A tear for a broken heart...
For the rest of that night she wandered the busy streets of Tokyo aimlessly. She needed to think, she needed to put her head together. For everywhere she went she saw Tenchi, Tenchi and that girl. Tenchi and that girl kissing.
Nowadays when shy thought about it she didn't feel betrayed or broken hearted, she felt rather indifferent.
That night. It was that night she met Hotsuma again. Her golden haired savoir with glasses. He took her away from those people who always accused her of doing something horrible, those people who made her laugh, those people who teased her, her family. He took her away from the pain and returned her to the familiarity of the stars.
"They all look like diamonds don't they princess?" He had asked her.
Ryoko was enjoying the sight of space too much to scold him for calling her a princess again. "Yes billions of little diamonds. And I'm going to steal them all!" She had declared smiling broadly.
Hotsoma, I didn't think of you as my rebound from Tenchi. I thought of you as a friend...well maybe more than a friend. Ryoko knew she had treated him badly, that was one of her few regrets.
Ryoko removed the holograph player from her pocket and replayed the recording. They were just leaving the bank they had just cleaned out.
"Hotsuma, I'm having so much fun I could kiss you." She smiled as she carried the bag of money over her shoulder.
"I think that's a good suggestion princess." Hotsuma said.
Ryoko stopped dead in her tracks and dropped her plunder. "I've told you before don't call me that!" She said about to swing.
There was something in his eyes that made her drop her fist and kiss him full on the lips. And that was the start of something, for they began to start all heist with a kiss for luck, then another after for victory. Soon the simple peck on the lips turned into deep kisses of passion. But that was all they did, sex never occurred between the two.
If he had been a little more patient. She had decided to go back to Earth but only for a weekend visit. Long enough to see her family again, short enough so that by the time Kiyone and the Galaxy Police came she was gone.
But Hotsuma wasn't patient, and he turned out to be one of Yugi's henchmen.
Hotsuma, why did you do it? Why did you want to hurt me, kill me? I thought... I thought we were partners. She thought to herself.
A tear for betrayed trust...
They fought. They fought in the snow and ice but they couldn't feel the cold. Ryoko was furious when she struck the last blow, lunched the last deadly attack.
The snow and ice was no longer white but crimson where Hotsuma's blood had spilled. Ryoko remembered how she looked down on him, he looked so feeble among the white snow.
"My princess, we had some good times together didn't we?" He had asked leaving Ryoko too surprised to speak. "This wasn't just Yugi's orders, I really did like you. That Tenchi doesn't realize how lucky he is to have your love."
Unable to be angry at him any longer she bent down to kiss his cold forehead.
"Go get her." Hotsuma whispered as his eyes closed.
And another tear for Hotsuma...
End Chapter one.
Demoness Space Pirate: (Dodging flaming arrows) Hey quit that! Give me a moment to explain! (Angry mob stops.) Thanks. For as long as I have been reading fanfics I've read about six to seven Ryoko and Hotsuma stories! And besides there are already enough Ryoko and Tenchi fics. So if ever I should write anymore stories they won't be Ryoko and Tenchi but other characters. You don't like it oh well it won't stop me, lower my self-esteem but never stop me.
