I do not own Tenchi Muyo or any of its characters. This story is mine and anyone who tries to use it without telling me, will be visited by my dear Duo-The Great Shinigami! *Shinigami pops in and waves with a cute smile*
Anyways, I am so pleased with the way this story is turning out. I started in Saturday and I'm finished. Well I am SO appreciative of all the WONDERFUL & POSITIVE feedback I've received. Thank you so much and I am so thrilled that people think I am such a good writer. This is my passion and so early in my life people love me. You're all awesome! Thank you! Please continue to R & R as this is the final chapter! I hope you like the ending!

-Always-

*~Lady Starlight~*



I'll Never Forget



Chapter 6

Ryokos' heart raced, her mind was soaring. She was so rejuvenated after speaking to Potter and her soul was filled with a new hope. There was a chance she could change things…make up for her past. And even if she could not do that, Ryoko would at least remember all the days she had with Tenchi, and know that somewhere deep inside his heart…he stilled loved her.

By the end of the afternoon, Ryoko collapsed at the front gate of the Masaki home. The sky was blazing a deep pink with hints of royal purple and icy silvers. The sunset cast a soft, sweet glow on everything in its path and Ryoko looked up at the sky thankfully. 'I threw it all away because I was scared. I just wanted him to be happy, but in the process, I only make things worse. Here's my chance to redeem myself,' Ryoko thought with a tiny smile. And with one last sign, Ryoko closed her eyes and stood slowly. 'I'm home.'

*~*~*

It was a soothing atmosphere inside the living room as Sasami passed around fresh sandwiches garnished with sweet smelling spices. Washu was sitting by the fireplace, keying on her computer; the galaxy police partners were playing a game of chess. Although, the game wasn't too hard since Mihoshi continued to confuse it for checkers. "I swear Kiyone, something doesn't look right with this picture," she said thoughtfully eyeing the board.

"That's right Mihoshi. And you want to know why?" Kiyone replied rubbing her temples. Mihoshi nodded eagerly with a goofy gleam in her eyes. "Because this isn't checkers!" Kiyone dumped the board over and sobbed onto the coffee table. Mihoshi gave a quick sigh and laughed, while she tried to comfort her friend. The others watched with wide smiles.

Tenchi, meanwhile, lounged in the armchair as Ayeka flipped through a photo album with him. "You see Tenchi, this is where…" she commented sweetly as she pointed out specific pictures of Tenchi and herself. But the man sitting beside her…his mind was off elsewhere. All day he'd had a strange feeling, like something was very out of place. Ever since Ryoko had left, regaining his memory hadn't been easy, especially because she seemed to make up quite a bit of his lost life. "Tenchi! Are you paying attention?!" Ayeka shrieked catching him as he daydreamt.

"Huh-oh uh yeah! I'm with you," Tenchi replied sheepishly. 'Still, I can't shake this feeling.' Ayeka flipped through the pages one by one, but on one particular page, she skipped it entirely. As she skipped by, a small part of a picture caught his full attention. "Hey, Ayeka go back for a moment."

"But Tenchi, you don't want to see those-

"Ayeka please let me see them!"

"But Tenchi!" The boy saw this was going nowhere and swiftly took the album from her grasp. The Princess pouted briefly and turned to the window from her seat on the carpet. She wanted him to remember nothing related to Ryoko or anything she had an antipathy towards for that matter.

Tenchi finally found his place again and his eyes began to scan the pictures slowly. None of them caught his interest…except one. It was an old picture, one that was a tiny bit faded. It was of the mountain shrine a few years ago. There was a girl in the background. It stirred something in him, and Tenchi could feel his thoughts swimming around wildly. There was something there, and that picture was proof. He just couldn't put his finger on it. "Tenchi you alright?" Washu asked. The people around him had noticed his intense expression as he examined a few pictures.

"Yes Washu, I'm just a little tired I suppose. I don't know. I think I might take a walk to clear my senses," Tenchi replied pulling out of his concentration.

"Lord Tenchi! I would love to accompany you on this little excursion!" Ayeka suggested latching onto his arm. The boy cringed at her grip and sighed.

He settled his soft brown eyes upon her, "If you don't mind, Ayeka, I'd like a few minutes alone-

"Girls, Tenchi needs his space. Crowding him isn't going to help anyone," Washu proclaimed as Grandpa nodded in agreement. Ayeka's eyes dropped.

"That's alright. Maybe later?" Tenchi nodded to her slowly. He slipped out of the room with the picture carefully in his hand and went outside.

*~*~*

Ryoko sighed as she began to walk towards the house. Suddenly the sound of the front door opening and closing caught her attention. She saw a boy leaving the house and heading towards the steps up to the mountain shrine. 'Tenchi!' Ryoko's heart sang. Seeing him forced an exuberant feeling into her body. 'Oh no…what if history repeats itself!' a voice of reason cried out in her mind. 'No…I can't let my fears hold me back…I have to see him. I have to even the score…just like Potter said!'

Ryoko watched Tenchi ascend the steps in a casual manner and followed her instincts. He was alone, and she could finally redeem herself. 'Tenchi, my love for you could overflow the oceans. Please give me a chance…even if you don't remember. I cannot walk away. I am bound to you.' The silver haired woman silently stood at the foot of the stairs the climbed through the peaceful woods to the location and heart of Ryoko's sadness. Going back to the shrine and seeing Tenchi would be a nightmare…yet she could not watch her life be swept away at a pitiful act of fate.

"Tenchi…please give me a chance. I'll make things right. I still blame myself for losing you. But this time Tenchi, this time," Ryoko whispered as she reached the top of the stairs. Tenchi was standing over by the shrine, staring intently at a small picture clasped gently in his hands. Seeing him took Ryoko's breath away.

Tenchi meanwhile, as oblivious to her presence. He sat in silence, staring at the picture, thinking that doing such would awaken something within him. Tenchi had felt something the first time he set eyes on the photograph. The fact it was of the mountain shrine had forced him to climb the steps and place himself there. 'God…why do I feel like there is something here. But all I see is this shrine and that girl.'

"Tenchi," a clear voice rang out. The boy jerked around and saw her standing there, her hands holding the other tightly, a hopeful smile on her face. Suddenly he saw what he'd overlooked the entire time. There she was…long sleeveless navy kimono swaying gently in the breeze…the same breeze that rustled her beautiful silver hair. The sky above reflected in her bright and clear amber eyes. She stood there, her eyes, her smile…drawing back memories…forcing life into his body.

"Oh my god. I remember," Tenchi whispered. The memories flooded back into his mind…the shrine…the storm…Ryoko…the confession.

Ryoko picked up on his shocked and distant expression as his eyes bore holes in her, "Tenchi! Are you alright?!" She ran up to him and looked deep into his eyes. They were so close. 'I won't lose you again my love, please Tenchi…be alright!' Tenchi gazed into her eyes and remember everything he'd lost. The days they met, the happy holidays, the battles, the tragedies. He remembered his life…

"I can't believe I forgot. Ryoko! I'm sorry!" Tenchi cried out as he took her into his arms and pulled her close. A feeling inside Tenchi compelled him to act, all the emotions inside of him…all the love he held inside for her. The distance between them lessened by the second and soon, they were embraced in a passionate kiss. The kiss was warm and sweet and Ryoko felt her fears and the demons from her past melt away at his tender touch. After a few moments, the two broke apart and gazed at each other, one bewildered, the other completely in love.

"Tenchi, you remember? I mean…you really remember me? You know who I am?" Ryoko whispered, tears pouring from her eyes. 'Am I dreaming…is this just wishful thinking? But that kiss…Potter was right. I just had to go back and try…'

"Of course I remember you!" Tenchi let out a joyous laugh. The same one Ryoko lived to hear those times ago. "And I'm sorry I let this happen…Washu couldn't even figure out how it happened! I felt so empty…something was missing. You left and I spent months trying to regain my lost memories. Then I saw this picture, and I felt something. I had to come here; I had to see. And there you were. My angel, the one my mind had forgotten, but the one my heart ached for more and more each day. Ryoko I am so sorry I let all those memories disappear into time…I am so sorry!"

Ryoko blushed furiously at his comments. It had taken so long to finally accept his amnesia…but now he had regained all that was lost. Ryoko had never left his heart, even if his mind had let the memories slip away. A love that bound her to him, to this place…a love that spanned the ages…it was a love he now returned to her. "Am I dreaming? Tenchi, I truly thought this was my entire fault. You were crying and I went to help you! And then you told me…told me you were sorry that you didn't…" Ryoko stopped.

"I told you I was sorry that I didn't love you enough," Tenchi finished for her.

He felt a stab in his chest as the memories impose themselves upon his mind. Tenchi then looked over to Ryoko. He saw the pain in her eyes. Those same wondrous eyes he'd fallen in love with at first sight.

"I thought that anything I had done, any signs I had ever given weren't enough. With Ayeka hanging around, I had to be careful. But it killed me to watch you run away with Hatsuma. It killed me to see you cry when I was with Sakuya. I was scared…I didn't know what to do. I thought that since I had failed with you, Sakuya could change things. But even when I was with her…all I could think about was you. All I can ever think about is you. I never stopped loving you even when you left. Forgetting you in my mind was hell, but you were always in my heart Ryoko." A quiet followed for a moment. Ryoko looked over the mountain's edge and took a breath of fresh air. The sunset was gorgeous now. The beautiful colors illuminating the world with a vibrant, glittering wonder.

"Do you still mean what you said?" Ryoko asked uncertainly. Tenchi touched her cheek gently with his hand and wiped away a few stray tears. She was beautiful even in her mourning.

"Yes Ryoko. I love you more than anything in this universe." Tenchi put his arms around her and drew Ryoko in close. He kissed her gently on the lips and once more on the forehead. The sunset cast an eternally brilliant light upon them, radiating them with gorgeous pinks and rubies, as if reflecting their infinite love for one another. Tenchi smiled just knowing she was in his arms.

"Tenchi, promise me something?" Ryoko whispered. The boy automatically knew her request. The sunset seemed to grow increasingly more colorfuly then as mauves and navys invaded the radiant pinks.

"Don't worry Ryoko, this time…I'll never forget."



~*~*~*~*~The End~*~*~*~*~

I hope you all enjoyed this story. It is my first Tenchi Muyo Romance and for all you Tenchi + Ryoko fans out there, I hope you like it!

Anyway, you may have questions about Tenchi's illness. The truth is...there is no answer. He became sick and forgot everything all at the hand of a strange twist of fate. There isn't always a reason for why strange things happen. Yet as Ryoko and Tenchi learned...throughout their torment, love conquers all.
-Always-

*~Lady Starlight~*