Tenchi Muyo and all related characters are © AIC/Pioneer. The views expressed herein do not necessarily express the opinions of AIC/Pioneer, the author, or this website.
"You know he can't stay here forever." she said to her daughter, looking at her as if it truly needed to be said. They were in the lab and Ryuka had just gone to bed. They both sat quietly and took turns speaking.
"Yeah.. I know." stated Ryoko blankly. Washu had turned so serious. Ryoko wondered where it came from.
"I'm sending him back tomorrow. He needs to be with his parents." said Washu. "You can spend the night with him, but he has to go back." she finished. Ryoko nodded. "Now, I'm going to bed!" said Washu, back to her cheery self.
Ryoko sat there and thought for a moment. It had been a fun week. Definitely interesting. Quite the run they had… She teleported to the room.
"Hey. Hey, Ryuka, wake up." she urged. He stirred slowly.
"Hm?? What's up, Ryoko?" he asked innocently, rubbing his eyes.
"You and me should hang out tonight. Do a bunch of fun stuff. Whattaya say?" she queried. He instantly obtained the energy he needed and bolted up-right.
"Sure!" he answered. He got up and saw that Ryoko was already setting up snacks in the kitchen. He watched her happily. She seemed so full of energy and joy.
"Whattaya wanna watch, kiddo?" she asked.
"Err.. I don't really know." He answered.
"Then I'll pick one!" She trudged through a stack of movies and pulled out a fairly new looking DVD box entitled, "The Summoning".
"Err!! I'm not really..uh..good.. with horror movies…" he said squeamishly as he scratched the back of his head.
"Aw, don't worry, buddy! I'm sure it's probably lame and predictable" she comforted.
* * *
Popcorn littered the couch, Ryuka's head buried behind Ryoko's back and his arms holding her waist tightly. He wasn't the only one shaking, though.
"AAH!!" screamed Ryoko. "That ghost came out of nowhere!" she said as she pointed at the screen. Aeka, who was immediately woken up by the scream, was also immediately infuriated. She walked out in her night gown ready to yell at Ryoko but stopped at the stairs. She saw Ryuka with his head squeezed between Ryoko and the couch, and she saw Ryoko pointing at the television. She let out a quiet sigh and went back to bed without saying a word.
About an hour later both of them sat on the couch with looks of horror glued onto their faces, holding each other for dear life.
"Why do we even own that movie??" questioned Ryoko, still frozen in terror.
"I-I bet it w-was W-Washu's.." stuttered Ryuka.
Somewhere near ten minutes later they were in the kitchen looking for more to eat, and asking each other what to do next.
"Tenchi's got this really cool video game" stated Ryoko.
"Nah, I'm not good at those." He said. Then he saw Ryoko stand straight up.
"I've got it!" she declared.
"Hmm?" before he complete his next thought she grabbed him and he found them both at the Onsen. "BWAAH!" he screamed. He remembered this place. This was the place where he almost fell to his death. This was the place he..saw Ryoko…..- This was the place she saved his life a second time..
"Cmon, we've had a long day, don't you think a bath might be a little nice?" asked Ryoko, who was obviously having far too much fun with making Ryuka feel as uncomfortable as she could. But he thought to himself. He had seen her..this way.. before. Every night in fact. It's just.. she hadn't seen him..
The warmth in the air certainly felt good. And somewhat inviting. He looked at Ryoko, who was already in the water. He felt himself burning an awful red.
"C-could you..turn around really quick?" he asked shyly. Ryoko did as she was asked and turned her head. She didn't even sneak a peek as Ryuka got into the water.
The water was so warm and relaxing. He quickly felt his anxiousness ease away from him. Ryoko calmly swam around in the water. He sat there, stationary. 'What now?' he thought.
"Ryuka, cmon, the water's fine" pleaded Ryoko. He slowly proceeded to swim around, but tried to avoid getting too close to Ryoko.
After a while, he was completely comfortable with the situation. Ryoko, always in a mood for fun, made a sort of volleyball thing out of light and they tossed it around. Ryoko gave a sort of embarrassed Ryuka a back ride through the water. Ryuka, despite also feeling massively uncomfortable, was still having the time of his life.
* * *
They awoke to the flash of a camera and the first thing they saw was Washu's cheerful face. Ryuka looked around, he felt arms around his torso. They both stirred slowly. Washu had already gone to make copies of the photo. Ryuka looked up to see Ryoko staring back at him.
"Morning." She said. But it wasn't in the happy tone he would have liked to hear her say it in. She seemed a little sad or distant when she said it. They got up and lived out the morning like they usually would have. Until they heard a knock on the door.
Washu answered the door happily. "Ah! Mr. Akubi!" she shouted. Ryuka froze.
"I understand that you have taken care of my son for the past week. I graciously thank you." Said Ryuka's father. Ryuka knew he had to leave. Once dressed, he slowly made his way to the door. He barely looked up when he felt arms grab him and dash off. "Hey! Come back here with my son!" Mr. Akubi shouted.
"It's okay" assured Washu. "Let them have a few minutes."
Ryoko took Ryuka to her favorite place in the woods. She just sat there with him staring at the pond.
"It sure was some ride..huh, Ryuka?…" she asked calmly.
"Yeah.. It really was." Replied Ryuka. "I had a lot of fun this week, Ryoko. More fun than I think I've ever had. I'll miss you all…" he stated sadly. He looked at her. He stared into those topazes Ryoko called eyes. He watched them glisten in with the water. She looked at him.
They stared at each other for a minute or two.. The next thing he knew her lips were on his.. They were soft.. Softer than he thought a woman so tough would..or could have. He wasn't looking at her eyes anymore, and she wasn't looking at his. They both paid their eyelids undivided attention. She let go of his lips.
"Cmon.. We need to get you home." She said. They had reached the Masaki residence where Ryuka's father was waiting for him.
"Goodbye, Little Washu. Thank you for all you've done. Thank you all. He bowed politely, to which they bowed back.
In a spur of the moment thought he tightly rapped his arms around Ryoko, crying.
"Thank you, Ryoko…" he chocked out. He had to let go and look at her. "Thank you so much.. Goodbye.." He walked off with his father to his house.
* * *
Ryuka had just finished unpacking in his new room.
"Ryuka, go check the mail" his father told him. He went out, opened the mail, and found only one thing in it. It was a little box, addressed to him. He brought it back into his room and opened it.
In it was a framed picture of him and Ryoko, asleep together on the couch. It had a note attached to it.
"Ryuka, we really hope all goes well in Tokyo. Have a great life, and meet great friends along the way! Signed: Washu, Tenchi, Aeka, Mihoshi, Sasami, and Ryoko"
He could feel himself tearing up a little. He set the picture on his desk. He made a decision that he would go back there someday.
"I will… I'll go see them all again.." he promised himself.
A/N: Thank you all so much! I'm glad I was finally able to get this finished. I think this chapter came out a lot better than the last one did. Thank you to everyone who supported me. Please, if you like this, read my newer fic "From Dusk 'til Dawn". I also should be able to post at least every other week now. ^^