Chapter 2

Sometimes Tenchi was glad his grandfather called him to work in the mornings. It seemed easy for him to kiss Kozue on the lips and run off to work without more than a goodbye to say to her. This morning, Tenchi waited by the phone like a dog that was waiting to be let outside for hours. He tapped his foot impatiently and sneaked secret glances over his shoulder at Kozue, who was reading the morning paper.

"Oh that filthy demon, Ryoko, took over another large vessel carrying tons and tons of carrots. I wonder if she really likes carrots that much?" Kozue laughed and flipped the page.

...

Ryoko scowled as Ryo-ohki bounced happily among the falling carrots. "Hurry up and eat! Geesh! Next time just ask and we'll get some real food!"

Ryo-ohki polished off a crate by the time Ryoko has finished nagging.

...

Tenchi found himself laughing a bit. He didn't know why. As he hoped and prayed, the phone rang with such alarm. It didn't even ring a full second before Tenchi took the phone and addressed the person on the other line.

"Top Elite Officer Wantanabe Tenchi speaking!" He clutched the phone with sweaty hands and gulped as Kozue shot him a confused look.

"Miboy! You don't have to speak to your grandfather as if I'm some sort of tyrant! I need you in my office as soon as possible. There's a mission of importance that only you can take! How's that girl of yours? Hmm? Tenchi? Hello? Tenchi?!"

Little did Commander Wantanabe know, Tenchi had dropped the phone and dashed onto his ship by the time he heard "Miboy!" which is what the Commander called Tenchi since birth.

With a sigh of relief, Tenchi tied his necktie and sank into the seat of Catoblepas, his ship. He wondered if he even stopped to kiss Kozue goodbye before he dashed out their apartment and into his ship. His grandfather appeared on the viewer with wide-eyes.

"There was no rush, Miboy!" The Commander laughed. "You could've came in during the afternoon if you wanted."

Tenchi swallowed hard and smiled "No, that's OK. I wanted to get out of the house anyway. Perhaps you can brief me on the mission. Maybe I can do a little research before I get to your office, Sir."

The Commander sat back with pride. "Very well, then. You've been chosen to go after Ryoko the space pirate."

The color flushed from Tenchi's face at record speeds.

"I know it sounds dangerous, but I would've never agreed to it if I knew you'd be in any danger. You'll have enough backup units to have your own army. Tenchi, I'm trusting you to come home safe to me and your idiot father and your beautiful fiancée. Oh! By the way! Congrats on that proposal!"

As if he had more color, Tenchi's body soon looked transparent as any other pigment ran straight from his face. "But... but but but I didn't propose!"

"I know I know, Miboy. General Hein came in and told me, today, that you were proposing to her later. Congrats!" The Commander grinned.

Tenchi loosened his tie and waved his grandfather away. "Catoblepas."

A hologram of a three-headed dog appeared from Tenchi's monitor. "Sir?"

"Pull up everything you've got on the space pirate Ryoko."

"Yes sir." The hologram faded and information upon information about Ryoko shot across the screen at lightning speeds.

Tenchi sat back. He'd never seen what Ryoko looked like. He just knew she was a menace. He always pictured her to look somewhat like Kozue with a sneer. Shaking the thoughts from his head, he began researching Ryoko.

Ryoko sank into Ryo-ohki's seat and sighed. Resting her arms behind her head, she stared out into space. There was so much happening without her that it became depressing. The crystal controls of the ship floated around freely until Ryoko reached out and pulled one close to her. She inspected her face in the crystal. Kagato hadn't bothered her all month. She felt grateful for it, though she knew it would come to an end. Her face was the same as it has always been. She remembered Kagato holding her face and pulling it closer. He'd tell her that she belonged to him and she could never have anything she ever wanted. All she ever wanted was someone to love her. The way that strange woman loved her when she came out of the tube. Ryoko vaguely remembered collapsing into her arms and being sleepy. The woman stroked her hair and smiled softly.

Slowly opening her eyes, Ryoko realized she fell asleep. She let go of the crystal and walked towards one of the larger windows of the ship. She leaned against the glass and sighed.

Tenchi let his airship ride on cruise control as he flipped through the last bulletin about Ryoko. She was so organized to him. He secretly envied her abilities, though he knew he would apprehend her and forever be perfect in his grandfather's eyes. All his life, he lived to impress his grandfather. After a while, he started to wonder when he'd start caring about himself. Now he was deeper than ever. Kozue was expecting him to propose tonight. His grandfather was expecting him to propose and his father hoped and prayed night and day that Tenchi would marry her. Everyone would be so pleased, but would he?

Sighing, Tenchi piloted his ship onto the landing pad and sulked his way to his grandfather's office.

~.~.~.~.~.~
750 years later...
~.~.~.~.~.~

Washu let the door close behind her then leaned back against where the door faded. She hadn't let anyone come into the lab since their stats started dropping rapidly. Everyone spent every waking minute in the livingroom, hoping that Washu would come out and let them know how Tenchi and Ryoko were.

Washu only looked away and lowered her head.

There were a few gasps, but it was Aeka's cry that broke the silence in the house. Sasami wrapped her arms around her big sister and let her weep on her shoulder.

"They're not... dead." Washu barely whispered.

Everyone slowly exhaled.

"But they're not doing well, either..." She finished. The little scientist turned to enter the door that had appeared in front of her.

"Little Washu?"

"Yes?" Washu turned around.

"How is Ryoko?"

Washu's eyes seemed to dull a bit, "She's not so well, Aeka. She's not well at all."

"You're a good mother, Washu." Aeka sat down again.
Washu entered the lab and wept into her hands.

End of Ch 2.

It's jumping back and forth, I know bear with me. It'll all come together soon! ~.^