A Heart Without A Beat
The muscle in her jaw tightens then slackens.
A groan forces itself out possibly by the threatening apparition in her vision.
Her face contorts repeating her pleads, gripping the pillow.
"Don't!" Ryoko snaps up, half shrugging she sniffles running her palm over her flushed face, and down to caress her swollen belly.
"Damn nightmare again."
The bed squeaks as she adjusts her pillow to return to her slumber when an eerie voice stops her. The flickering of the bedroom light triggers her to look heavenward, distress glowing in her eyes.
'Princess…'A concentrated male voice goad at her. Ryoko activates her saber and recedes to the headboard. She points the sword outward centering it at the darkest part of the room where she thinks the voice came from.
"It can't be…" Ryoko flinched reaching for the pillow to protect her unborn.
"This can't be real." Realization hit and her sights darts to the nightstand, she reaches over picking up the magenta medicine bottle prescribe by her genius mother.
'What is in this stuff anyway? "Dammit Washu and your experimental drugs!"
'Princess…' There it is again, Ryoko sat in shock.
"Stop…enough." The reformed pirate expressed weakly tears flooding her eyes covering her ears. It was his voice. Ryoko clenches her eyes shut eager to calm herself; she follows through with the instructions the elder Masaki gave her a few days ago.
'You have to face this, just breathe. Concentrate and it will be all over.' She encourages with her head sandwiched between her palms.
'Scared?'Her face ashen mouth gaped, the declaration now sounded like two individuals in her head.
"No…No. Ignore it…it's the only way," Ryoko began to rock herself as the voices intermingle growing loud in her mind. "Get out of my head! You mean nothing to me!" The atmosphere grew tense, piqued, Ryoko gnashes her teeth.
"To hell with everything! why can't you see what you're doing to me?!" Ryoko hung her head guarding her unborn, perhaps the medications are influencing these hallucinations.
"None of this is real." Ryoko murmurs repeatedly. 'I can't stop shaking.' Ryoko lifts a quivering right hand, this reaction was out of the ordinary for her.
'You belong to me, Ryoko!' A peal of child laughter follows.
"You rot in hell!" Fury fills her eyes, her hands' balls in a fist, amber feline orbs dart around the dark room. It was then Ryoko could have sworn she could have felt the lips of something near her ear. The icy sigh emanating from it ran a chill down her spine; she wrestled with the bedding rushing to the door. She turns her back just in time to catch the ceiling light fixture come crashing down, shards of glass falling at her bare feet. Ryoko scurries out the room, her upper torso riskily dangled over the balcony as she tries to gather herself.
Steadying her breathing, her splayed fingers over her chest, "I'm okay, I-I'm okay. Just get some water. You are fine." Ryoko quivering hands grip the wooden banister. Her knees feeling like jelly, she was scared. A foreign emotion.
From his seat at the kitchen counter, Tenchi quakes, hearing the loud crash from above. He quickly runs to the stairwell his robe winged behind him, finding the pirate sitting on the steps buried in her arms.
"Ryoko…hey, what is wrong?" Tenchi attempts to comfort her the best way he could, pulling her into his embrace. "What happened up there?"
Ryoko reluctantly hides her face into his neck, in spite of the anger she still harbors from the night before. She needed comfort at the moment. "I'm fine. It's nothing."
"Really? You look pale. I am here. Let's go to the kitchen and get some water." Tenchi helps her up, keeping her close. "Can you make it to the chair?" Tenchi chuckles holding her forearm as they walk across the threshold, Ryoko nods meandering her way to the island and seated herself on the stool. Catching a glimpse of the time and realizing the kitchen light was already on she began to wonder. Why is he up at this time? Putting on a façade she hardens her expression and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her housecoat.
"Another nightmare?" Tenchi placing the glass in front of her.
"Something like that." Setting her index finger and stirring the water before drinking. Since the start of her pregnancy, hydration has been her focal point, it was not only refreshing it was best lukewarm. Lesser trips to the bathroom.
"R-Ryoko…I," Tenchi utters shifting in his spot from beside her. Ryoko leers catching the nutty smell emitting from his breath.
"Were you drinking? Since when you started drinking, Tenchi?" She could not help to feel for the young man, Ryoko peers up at him with concern.
His face flushed as he straightens up, "I have my moments. Sometimes I just pour it and not drink," Tenchi wipes the wet spot with the kitchen cloth left from Ryoko's glass.
"So, what you dream about this time?" He questions wanting to take the heat off of him.
"Nothing." Ryoko eyes bore into him.
"Don't shut me out, Ryoko. I heard the noise, let's check it out. It's not like you fell out of the bed. You didn't, right?" Tenchi jests hanging the cloth to dry.
"Don't act like you fucking care." She sits up tying the sash of her robe.
"Of course, I care Ryoko! I-I am trying to work with you on this, is it that bad?" He reaches out gripping her shoulders gently. "I love you and it terrifies me," He held her hand in his over his heart.
Ryoko gazes at their clasp hands, 'I can't take this anymore.' Her sights float up to his chiseled face. Piercing chocolate eyes stare back at her goading her.
'Don't listen to him.'
Ryoko clears her throat and focuses her eyes more on every portion of his face. She reaches up caressing his cheek, her thumb rubbing his bottom lip. 'This is breaking my heart.' Her face contorts as tears begin to fill her eyes. He vocalized the three letters she has been dying to hear for so long. His lids droop staring at her full lips, he drew her in. Ryoko halfheartedly whimpers in protest and stiffens, "…no, we shouldn't." His brows furrowed leaning in more sliding his warm hand into her hair. Their lips came together, in a small kiss and pressed their foreheads together. Ryoko grips the gray overlay of his robe, her lips brushing against his struggling to not give in.
"Ryoko…" Tenchi in a hoarse voice attempts to bring her closer again. "I'm sorry. I was a jerk last night, you did not deserve it." He held her head in his hands, a move he's done before and it always pacifies her. "Let's fix this, please?"
'We can't fix this.' Ryoko buries her face into his chest.
The child laughter echoes throughout her mind, mockingly.
'I'm so afraid.'
Ryoko sinks her teeth into her lip and clenches her eyes close tears running freely. "Tenchi…"
"It's okay." He reassures her, wiping her tears. He grins finding her pink cheeks adorable. He gives her a quick peck and brought her once more into his arms. "Come here."
"Shh, Shh." Ryoko picks up her head eyeing his lips, Tenchi nods feeling her soft digits on his lips. Her amber eyes dart about the kitchen and back into his eyes seeming perplexed.Tenchi hands slowly drop to his sides, he mirrors her puzzled expression. "Is there something wrong with me?" She snubs the commentary of the entity in her mind.
"No, not at all." He shakes his head, holding her head once more picking up her nervousness.
'Such a horrible liar.'
"No," With a gaped mouth her brows raise as the voice continued its commentary. He reaches out to run a hand through her mane, taking her out of another trance.
"I broke my rules for you." She spits out breathlessly creating distance between them.
"W-What are you talking about Ryoko? I thought we were coming to an understanding." Tenchi gulps looking on muddled, he came to the realization that Ryoko may be going through the mood swings. He folds his arms, gauging how he should react to her accusations.
Ryoko expression closes up and she crosses her arms too, "You're just trying to keep me here. I-I don't hate you, but you haven't gotten what you deserve for leaving the family…leaving me. We barely survived when that little demon child attacked us, but we had to put up with your fucking decision to let her atone for her wrongdoings in the most comfortable way!" Giving him a rueful look, she brushes against him in passing.
Affronted, Tenchi with bated breath uttered the words that shattered her soul. "What makes you any different?!" Tenchi instantaneously regretted his words. He was not sure if it was the alcohol talking or his subconscious. Either way, he stood his ground.
'Ouch.'
Ryoko stiffens, and her fists curls tightly.
'It was necessary.'
Ryoko whirls around glaring at Tenchi in disbelief.
'You were so stupid. Should have known.'
The two stare daggers at one another, it is evident that Tenchi was not going to recant on what he said. Ryoko heart rate quicken, anger building within her. Introspectively, she had protected this family from every battle. She has done a lot more than the other female occupants in terms of combat, but here she is standing in the kitchen, berated by the one she thought she loved. Ryoko crept slowly towards him, he rose his hands defensively as a wall between him and her swollen belly. She grabs the collar of his robe, "Who the fuck you think you're talking to?!"
"Ryoko!" Tenchi struggles against her, eventually taking a hold of her wrists after she unleashes a series of punches to his chest. "Stop! You're going to hurt yourself!"
A shouting match ensues, "Don't you touch me!" Ryoko bellows pushing him away. Tenchi kept his distance eyeing her from the other side of the island.
"How long are you going to keep this over my head?! I want to get through this with you!" Tenchi keeps at it, he desired to lift the heavy the burden just as much as Ryoko wanted to.
"You put me in this situation! You made me self-destruct! That Demon child almost killed me and the family. Where were you?!"
Tenchi peers down, almost shameful his eyes swimming with tears. "I'm not apologizing, but you have to remember, you had a choice as well. We both have been duped by who were like us. So, don't you dare patronize me when your anger lies with your past!" He clutches the front of his mane, "My head...I can't take this anymore." He mutters grabbing a seat at the counter. The reformed pirate remains motionless peering over at the dark-haired man. Ryoko parts her lips to speak but watching Tenchi's shoulders tremble, it broke her heart hearing the boy weep.
"What is meaning of all this commotion?" Ayeka barges into the kitchen, she caught sight of an emotional Tenchi and an unemotional Ryoko looking on. "Ryoko, Tenchi."
"We had a little disagreement, Ayeka. That's all." Ryoko spoke not looking away.
Ayeka produces a washcloth from her night robe and handed it to Tenchi. Dejection clouded his features as he rose to take the cloth. "It is 4:45 am." Ayeka raises a brow placing a hand on the young man shoulder.
Tenchi apologizes to Ayeka and made his way towards Ryoko with a cold glare "You can leave but I'm like 70% sure that this debacle won't implode. If it does, remember all that happened a few moments ago," He bows and left the kitchen. Ryoko brushes the sweaty cyan bangs back as she watches him leave emotionless.
"You must keep your shoulders back and chest forward." The Princess strolls over to the pirate. "Do you want me to get you anything? Tea-?" Ayeka offers in the politest way.
"I'm fine, 'No, you are not.' quit being all nice to me." Ryoko arches her back, eliciting a noisy grunt yearning to ignore the entity interception into the conversation.
"Are you sure you're feeling all right? You look awful. Want to talk about it?" The Princess inquires evading Ryoko's space.
"I told you 'I'm fine.'" Ryoko turns and walks to the door.
"You're going to have to waddle faster than that." Ayeka jested.
"Oh, shut up." Ryoko moans just meters from the door.
Ayeka gnashes her teeth swiftly moving to block the expectant woman from leaving the kitchen. The mauve-haired woman slides the door close, "You're not traveling in this shape, you need to quit this stubborn act for the welfare of your unborn. Of course, I do not know what transpired between you and Lord Tenchi, but I feel we share the same sentiments."
"Ah being the Benedict Arnold are we, Ayeka? I will be more than happy to lose the extra cargo."
"Listen, Miss Ryoko, we are finally having the family back together, you do not know the lengths I took to at least see Mihoshi and Kiyone again! Your situation is futile."
Ryoko went pokerfaced, her shoulders arches back. "Studies show that I didn't ask for your opinion, your highness! Now move, I have three hours of sleep that I will like to enjoy before I head to space." Ryoko pushes Ayeka out the way.
"Sweet Dreams." Ayeka watches her leave with a scorn expression.
Ryoko confidently made it to the door of her room, she inhales deeply and turns the knob. The room was cold and dark, the shards of glass shimmering in the moonlight from the only window in the small room. Closing the door behind her, she carefully steps over the uneven cut glass and crept into the bed. Ryoko gave the room one more once over before lying on the pillow.
