A Heart Without a Beat

Zinnia

Ryoko enters her room, slamming the door behind her. She let out an agitated groan, sometimes being in a home full of occupants can be suffocating, particularly in the Masaki household! Enough! Her mind flooded to the times it was just her and Hotsuma. He gave her the breathing space to be with her thoughts—not too much though. But it was peaceful.

She padded over to the bed, observing that her bulge was becoming heavy. Gingerly, she sits on the bed and swings her legs up. Yellowish-brown eyes stare listlessly at the off-white ceiling inspired by staggering thoughts. With a click of a tongue, her fingers tickle her pursed lips.

"What sick person would take a corpse? Forget the ship, who does that?" she murmurs curiously. Chills ran through her as she thought of what could have been done to the body.

'Get a grip Ryoko. You're sobbing for the man who tried to kill you. Everything was a lie.'

'Maybe we are each other's unfinished business only to meet again and die together for our souls to be at rest.' Ryoko explodes in laughter, "Too many soap operas." Her laughter subsided and once again mental torture ensues, flashes of his crystal blue eyes, his beautiful and contagious smile flooded her mind. "They say heartbreak happen at night," she looks over her shoulder at the window, "could not be any more accurate." Hugging the pillow beneath her cheek she fought another crazy thought and closes her eyes.

"I am home! Oh, hey everyone! You're back!" Tenchi hid his despair well, plopping down on the couch across from a napping Mihoshi and Kiyone. He notices the absence of the mother and daughter duo.

"Any luck?"

"No, there was no remains or a ship to recover." Kiyone glance up from the magazine.

"We found a ring!" Mihoshi exclaimed propping her arm up from her light nap.

"A ring? Like a…" Tenchi gravelly spoke his brows furrowed.

"It's unclear," Kiyone comments small. Tenchi notes the teal haired woman glancing over her shoulder guardedly. "But now that you are here, we need to have a family meeting."

"Oh, all right. Yeah, I'll call it." He stands up, "Hey guys, meeting!"

"Great, I will get Washu and Ry-"

"Yeah, on the second thought we can have the meeting without them."

"You sure Tenchi?"

Tenchi nods "I am sure Washu is busy and Ryoko is tired." The oldest of the Juraian sisters sent a remorseful look at Tenchi before taking the seat beside Sasami.

Footsteps drew near and a weight settles by her thighs. A comforting warmth overcame her as if a blanket was placed over her weary body. The sensation of fingers threading through her silky mane, made her moan. She stirs, a pleasant smile crept across her face.

"Princess."

"Princess."

Ryoko slowly opens her eyes, her vision was briefly clouded looking to the figure near her bed. A warm hand rested alongside her cheek, a thumb caressing the space of her temple calling to her softly.

"Wake up, my love."

"H-H…" Consumed in her shock he beams at her from her bedside.

"It can't be." A tear drips down her face, only to vanish into his index finger that cupped her chin. "Did something happen to me? Did I die? I had just decided to take nap, I—" His index finger decelerate her rambling. It was then she took in, his appearance. Eyes still retain that alluringness. His facial proportions were flawless. Exotic. Only now, his hair was shoulder length, brushed back styled in a half updo. From his upper torso, he wore a lengthy black fitted coat, a black beaded necklace with a sapphire pendant secured around a white well-cut shirt. Even in death, he had a sense of style. Ryoko hand rose to reach out to the facial hair that neatly framed his face, captivated by the texture of it. The sensation was real. Ryoko hands move to touch every perimeter of his face as he closes his eyes allowing her to, tears forming once more.

"You're really here." She smiles running her palms down his coat.

"Your thoughts are keeping you up at night. It's unhealthy, Ryoko."

Her time with him was like a snippet of one of her favorite romance flicks. "I can't!" She buries her head into his chest. "It wasn't supposed to end! I can't even find the comfort in the round mouth of a Saki bottle. I will never forget the one whom I gave myself to, I trusted you with every fiber of my being. Every damn promise we have made to each other echoes throughout my mind every day!" Her cheeks glistened in the dull light of the bedroom, sorrow etched in every portion of his face as he held her tight listening."You meant everything to me. You were my best friend."

"It's not your fault, princess. You mustn't carry that burden anymore." He lifts her head from his chest, holding her head in his hands, her eyes narrowed at him at his declaration.

"I had no choice." His eyes glistened. "Do not ask for an explanation."

Ryoko snaps her mouth shut quickly, "It's okay. I understand. I'm over it." She shrugs crossing her arms turning away.

Silence fell over them, his hand caressed the space behind her neck calming her, "Uhh…I have not picked a name yet, Washu says that we won't know until the next couple of weeks." Ryoko admitted caressing her belly. He brought her into his arms holding her tight.

He smiles kissing the crown of her head, "Emre."

"Emre?" She recited the name peering up at him.

"It's a boy." He spoke softly giving her his infamous smile.

"We are having a son, really?" Her mouth curving into a smile, she giggled feeling the facial hair tickling her knuckles as he kisses her hand. A flush emerges when he kisses her forehead, he helped in lying her down on the bed tucking her in. She was intoxicated by this level of affection and attention.

"I love you, Princess, Emre." He adjusts the pillow beneath her head and back.

"Love you too." She reaches out him, another kiss and her lids became heavy.

"Perhaps Lady Ayeka, Grandpa and I can talk to the command. There has to be a way, you guys are family. It is devastating to think of how hard you've worked and end up losing your career in a blink of an eye."

"Yes…this commander is quite different. Amiable yet I have a sense he's gunning for something. I've been fully informed of his track record."

"Wow really, Kiyone? I thought he was cute, adorable is more like it." Kiyone brow twitches fighting the urge to not strangle the innocent blond. "Mihoshi he is our boss, be more professional will ya?!" Kiyone wedged the bridge of her nose stealing a moment to regain her composure. "There's more, Tenchi."

"W-What is it?" Tenchi tenses.

"This will call for Ryoko to turn herself in." A collective gasp fills the room, "She will be allotted six months postpartum ahead of the slammer. Greatly generous of him, he could have given her no time."

"I see." Tenchi stood up, sandwiching his lips and chin in his palm in shock. "Forgive me, but I will have to disregard all that you have said earlier! She's innocent, she was dragged into this by Yugi! We all were. She was a puppet."

"Yugi..." Sasami muttered hugging Ryoohki to her.

"Not to be the bearer of bad actualities. In accordance with the HQ's transcripts, Ryoko singlehandedly eradicated hundreds of those in the line of duty, Tenchi. We can't undo the past." Kiyone shot across at the young man, Tenchi buried his hands into his face.

"Dammit! A dream!" Ryoko throws the blankets off, and swing her feet over squashing the slippers below. She heard a mingling of voices outside the door, curiosity baited at her. Ryoko opens the door as quietly as she could. A family meeting.

"Explains her restraint…" Ayeka spoke incoherently, just as she spoke those words a creak from the stairwell caught her attention. Unsympathetic amber eyes peek out from the shadows locking to hers. The party became silent as her presence drew their attention. Tenchi, bent and broken, cracked a smile.

"Did you rest well?" His fingers drummed at the pocket of his tan cargo pants. He gulps watching her saunter over and sit in the hand-me-down rocking chair, gifted from his stepmother.

"Do you understand the gravity of this situation, Miss Ryoko?" Ayeka spat at the pirate watching her rock uncaringly. Tenchi looks over to the pirate, his thick dark brows furrows. He desired to embrace her, caress her soft skin everything to make her feel secure. "It appears that you don't."

He gazes at her sadly wanting to interrupt the lavender-haired woman, "Well Ryoko what you have to say for yourself?"

"Okay, Lady Ayeka please." Tenchi cut across.

As she swayed, the soft creaks were haunting. "No, I know I can't pull myself out of this dark hole and I can't pull you all in with me. But-"

"What about the child? He or she will need you, Ryoko!" Ayeka stares alarmingly at her insensible pal.

"I was getting there." Ryoko glares at Ayeka, but her eyes soften at the others, including Tenchi. His chocolate orbs locked onto hers, his expression was the same as any other times, they will hide away to talk. His eyes spoke volumes, full of the need to help her. Help his family. For him, he saw fear. Yet, her composure said otherwise trying to not let her sadness drown her. He wanted to tell her he will always love her, that he will always be there for her…but the words died in his throat. She tore her yellow-brown eyes away from him and continue to address the family. Ayeka caught sight of the stare down, her lids droop. "Accept my child and love him or her just the same! Please? Please, do this for me." Ayeka's mouth fell open, she surveyed the group taking in their responses specifically Tenchi's. The corners of Tenchi's mouth curves into a smile and place a hand to her shoulder.

"You don't know how lucky you are." He smiles at her.

Ayeka smile slipped, "So don't be ungrateful."