Author's Note: So I was 16 when I first wrote this story, and much like many of my other stories I gave up on it after the first chapter. I'm now 25 and I am a mother of 2 and while being 25 makes me an "adult" I have never lost my love of anime or Tenchi in particular. I was feeling nostalgic last night and I logged back into for the first time since I graduated high school. I decided this morning to write a second chapter because I wanted to. So even though it's been over 8 years since I first published this story, I am continuing it. Without further ado I give you chapter 2.

Motherly Love

Chapter 2: Love and Weakness

Washu had placed electrode pads all over Tenchi. She told him they would detect signs of lying – faster heart rate, intense breathing, etc. After placing the pads Washu had also shown Tenchi what would happen if he lied. The jolt had not been enough to cause any real pain but it had shocked Tenchi powerfully.

"So Tenchi," Washu began from behind her holotop. "What was that all about just now?"

"What was what about?" Tenchi asked nervously. He didn't know what Washu had seen and didn't want to state anything he didn't have to. He felt another jolt and couldn't help the yelp that escaped him.

"Don't play dumb with me Tenchi, you know I'm talking about the kiss."

Tenchi sighed. So she had seen, he should've known that, though he couldn't have been sure. Washu would experiment on him just for the hell of it. "I don't know Washu," he watched her hand go towards the button to shock him and panicked. "I really don't know. It just felt natural, like I couldn't control my actions."

Washu nodded understandingly. And typed something into her keyboard.

"Tenchi," she said quietly. "Have you made a choice amongst the girls?"

Tenchi looked up at the ceiling. It was what everyone wanted, for him to make a choice, to choose one of the girls to love and marry. He had never wanted that, in fact he had avoided ever leaning any way because it had never been his decision. It was what everyone else wanted him to do.

What if he wanted to find a normal girl here on Earth and get married? Have a family? Deep down he knew that could never happen. Choosing a human would mean losing all the girls. They would leave and he would be left with a solitary life on Earth. That wasn't what he wanted.

But choosing one of the girls that lived in the house right now could mean losing them as well. He loved the way things were now; he didn't want to lose that.

"No Washu," Tenchi finally stated. "That's not something I have thought about, or even something I want to think about right now."

Washu looked at him in silence for a long time before speaking in a voice much softer than what Tenchi was used to. "Tenchi, I have come to love you like a son. But I want you to understand something. Ryoko, no matter how much she denies it, is my daughter and I will protect her. I wasn't able to protect her from Kagato and I still live with that regret. You may not know what your feelings are, but don't mess with hers. If you hurt her, I will never forgive you."

Tenchi felt the straps loosen and the pads slip off. He sat up and walked out of the lab without another word. 'Don't worry Washu,' he thought to himself. 'If I hurt her, I wouldn't forgive myself.'

When Tenchi came out he spotted Ayeka now sitting on the couch holding Mayuka and feeding her a bottle. Ryoko had disappeared. Tenchi stood watching for a few minutes. Everything looked wrong. Ayeka wasn't doing anything wrong. She always helped out with Mayuka and had never complained about it. But Ayeka had treated it like another one of her chores.

Ayeka had affection for Mayuka, like all the girls, but she didn't have that look of pure love that Tenchi had seen on Ryoko's face last night. He shouldn't expect that of anyone. Mayuka was his daughter, his responsibility. But something about last night had touched him deep down. Shaking it off he went to pick up Mayuka.

"I'll take her, miss Ayeka." He said with a smile.

"Oh Lord Tenchi, I don't mind." Ayeka said quickly standing up. "I've already finished my morning chores and Mayuka is no trouble."

"It's fine miss Ayeka, I figured that Mayuka could come with me while I pick some carrots. She loves the field." Tenchi said grabbing the baby.

"Of course," Ayeka said with a slight bow.

Tenchi grabbed the backpack carrier by the door and placed Mayuka inside before placing the carrier on his back. Tenchi loved having Mayuka with him while he worked and he knew the girls needed a rest from watching her. Walking out the door he headed towards the carrot fields, Mayuka giggling the whole way.


Ryoko sat on the roof staring up at the clouds. She had released Mayuka into Ayeka's care after being yelled at once more for sleeping. Ryoko didn't have the energy to fight back. She needed to escape. Something was happening to her and she needed time to think.

Each day she felt herself getting closer to Mayuka, felt her heart softening a little more. It frightened her. Having attachments made one weak. She had already seen what loving Tenchi had done to her. The idea of losing Tenchi drove her crazy, made her fearful constantly. Standing up she quickly teleported to where she had once released Mayuka to fall to her death.

Ryoko floated above the lake remembering how she had wanted to protect Tenchi at all costs, and yet she still had saved the girl's life. If she had let Mayuka die then, their problems might have ended. They may not have ever had to face Yuzuha. But even as the thoughts came to her she felt a stab in her heart. She could never have let Mayuka die and she couldn't imagine her life without her now.

Ryoko teleported herself down onto one of the trees below. She knew what Tenchi would say; he'd tell her that she worried too much. That they were living in a time of peace and it was okay to be soft. But Ryoko couldn't think that way. There was always danger and weakness could destroy them when they least expected it.

Ryoko stayed in the tree until she could hear Sasami's faint voice calling everyone to lunch. She floated back towards the house and went inside. A few minutes later Tenchi came in with Mayuka on his back. Ayeka quickly rushed over to help take the baby out of the carrier.

"Ma." Mayuka said twisting out of Ayeka's arms to try and get to Ryoko. "Mama."

Everyone stood awestruck by what was happening. It was the first words Mayuka had ever said, and on top of it they were being directed at Ryoko.

Ryoko stood frozen, unsure of what to do. Part of her wanted to smile, the other part felt tears forming in her eyes. She quickly looked down at her feet to keep them in. She could feel everyone's eyes on her. Ayeka was the first to speak.

"How did you do it demon woman!" Ayeka screeched, "How did you trick her to call you mama?"

Ryoko smirked; she had to play this off like she didn't care. "Just cause the kid has better taste doesn't mean I tricked her. I didn't have to." Ryoko plucked Mayuka from Ayeka's arms.

"This is all some sort of trick to get Tenchi to think you're better with her than we are. You don't even help out with Mayuka and you definitely don't care about her!"

Ryoko felt like she had just been slapped. She didn't know how to respond. None of them had any idea how she was suffering.

"Ayeka that is enough!" Tenchi stated firmly. All eyes went to Tenchi who was looking angrier than the girls had ever seen him. After a few moments Tenchi's face relaxed and he was able to speak much more calmly. "There's no way Ryoko could have tricked a baby, and there is no need to fight in front of Mayuka."

Ayeka looked down ashamed. "I am sorry Lord Tenchi." She turned and entered the dining room. Everyone else turned to follow, leaving just Tenchi, Ryoko and Mayuka in the living room.

Ryoko looked down at Mayuka who was now sleeping in her arms. "I'm going to go lay her down," she said quietly, turning towards the stairs. Tenchi followed behind. When Ryoko entered the nursery he waited in the hall, he wasn't sure what he planned on saying but he had felt the urge to follow Ryoko.

When she came out of the room she quietly stared at him. They both stood there in silence for a few minutes, neither one sure of what to say.

"Ryoko, I know what you've been doing at night." Tenchi finally spoke up. "I saw you last night. I know that you love Mayuka. Don't let Ayeka get to you."

Ryoko smiled slightly and nodded her head. Tenchi knew something else was wrong, he knew Ryoko well enough to know when things were bothering her.

"What is it Ryoko? What's going on in that mind of yours?"

Ryoko stared at him, her golden eyes pouring out her soul. He had never seen Ryoko look so vulnerable, other than maybe when she first merged with zero. She looked as though she might answer when Sasami appeared at the end of the hall.

"Come on guys, it's time for lunch," Sasami said happily, oblivious to the tension going on.

Ryoko quickly snapped out of it. "Alright kiddo we're coming, I'm starved!" Ryoko followed Sasami down the steps into the dining room. Tenchi followed a few seconds later. Maybe he had lied to Washu after all; he was starting to think making a decision wouldn't be too hard.