Ametsuchi Muyo!



Disclaimer: I don't own Tenchi Muyo or any of the characters. Please don't sue me -.-;;;
Spoiler warning. These events take place after Tenchi Muyo! in Love 2; and therefore may contain spoilers.



Chapter 2

Seijitsusa Muyo

"I don't care!! Just leave me alone!" Tenchi stormed up to his room, leaving his still warm dinner behind.

"Tenchi…"

"Great, now you made Tenchi-sama mad again!" Aeka continued blabbering on, but Ryoko paid no heed. She just fazed out and left.

Things have become increasingly tense in the last week. Aeka and Ryoko had increased their fighting, and Tenchi is just stressed out because of school and his 'new' brother. Everyone just kept on exploding night after night. This night was no exception.

'It had started out fine enough, but, with everything else recently, it didn't last long.

"Don't you sit next to Tenchi-sama!" Aeka was ballistic. "You sit over there. Tenchi-sama doesn't want to sit next to a mummy like you!"

"Who asked you!?" Ryoko slammed a foot on the table. She jumped back onto Tenchi and began drawing lazy circles on his shirt, "Ne, wouldn't you like to sit next to me? I know! I'll feed you!" With that, she grabbed an overly large piece of shrimp tempura, and began forcing it down Tenchi's throat.

"You beast! Unhand Tenchi-sama!" Aeka was now standing, shouting, and pointing.

"Wanna make me?!" Ryoko dropped Tenchi, who was now turning blue, and created an energy ball. "I'll take you out right now!"

Tenchi spit out the food, stood up and started irrationally yelling at the girls.'

Aeka soon followed Tenchi's course of action, and left the room. Normal conversation ensued, but everyone was hiding their surprise at this most recent blow-up.

"Ah, Ametsuchi-oniichan!" Sasami cheered up instantly, "I saved you some!"

"Thanks Sasami-chan." Ametsuchi set his sword on the floor beside him while sitting down. Smiling at the site of the great food, he quickly snatched a pair of chopsticks and began to eat. "Where is everyone else."

"Tenchi-dono is in his room." Washu had just finished eating.

"Onee-sama went in the bath." Sasami started clearing the finish plates.

"And Ryoko just left all of a sudden." Nobuyuki helped Sasami out.

"Another fight?" Ametsuchi washed the food down with tea. "This sure is good Sasami-chan."

"They've been fighting more and more recently." Kiyone said with a groan.

"Why don't you see if there is something you can do about it." Katsuhito looked at his grandson. "I'm sure Tenchi will listen to you."

Ametsuchi crammed some more rice into his mouth then stood up. "It's not Tenchi I'm worried about."

"Eh?" Everyone looked up at him.

"I'll be back in a bit. Don't wait up." With that, he grabbed his sword and left in a slow trot.

Ametsuchi quickly headed down the steep stone steps heading toward the shrine. He was going at a moderately fast past now, quickly moving through the woods with sure footing. It was almost as if he'd never left. After a few minutes of his brisk jog, he reached his destination: the old tree behind the Masaki shrine, Funaho. Ryoko heard his footsteps on the rocks leading across the small pond. Ryoko was sitting on a high branch with her face in her hands.

"WHOEVER IS THERE, JUST GO AWAY!" A stifled cry apparent in the female's voice.

"Ryoko, I want to talk to you for a bit."

"NO!" With that she fazed out.

She fazed back in a few hundred yards away on another tree branch. "Jerk…"

"Who's a jerk?"

"Tenchi is…" Ryoko stared, shocked at the site of the person who was leaning against the tree on the same branch as she; amazed at his speed. "Go away!"

"Ryoko, I know how you feel." He tried to be as soothing as possible.

"You can't possibly know how I feel!!" A few tears escaped as she yelled.

"Can't I?"

"Well… er…" Ryoko didn't care anymore, she felt like just running away.

"Why do you put up with that? You're still young. You're beautiful, you could find many a man who would treat you with the respect you deserve. Why put up with this?"

"Because…" Ryoko desperately tried to keep herself from crying. "Because… Because I love him!!" The words came out rather violently.

"Heh…" came the reply, almost overflowing with cynicism. "'Love'… What a fleeting concept. When has he ever returned your 'love'? Or has it always been this way?"

"Once…" Ryoko tried to remember back, trying to remember the days she had almost forgotten. "Once… Once I though he did, but…"

"But it didn't last." Ametsuchi was obviously full of contempt for his younger brother. "So he leaves you dangling on a leash."

"It's not like that at all!" Ryoko lied. She realized the truth in his words. "Not at all…"

"Isn't it? Have you ever heard him say that he loves you?"

"Well…" Ryoko snapped. "STAY OUT OF THIS!!! WHAT DO YOU KNOW?!"

"'What do I know'?" Ametsuchi chuckled.

"Yes! What do you know?!" Ryoko was putting all her frustration into her words. "When have you ever loved? How could you possibly know how I feel?!"

"You are right. I don't know." Ametsuchi slumped down on the branch. "I don't know what it feels like anymore. I've forgotten what it's like to have the one you love right in front of you. Being able to touch her… Just being able to see her… I've forgotten all that. So you're right, I don't know how you feel. But I know the truth. You're loving someone who isn't loving you back. You are wasting the best years of your life wishing something to happen that won't."

"It's not a waste…" Ryoko was ready to burst.

"Are you sure he loves you? Or are you chasing something that isn't real?"

"I don't…" Here is comes. "I don't know!…"

Ryoko dropped her head into her hands and began crying. It was not a normal cry either. She was letting out all the pain and rejection of the past years that she had kept inside her. She kept sobbing and babbling incoherent things about love. Ametsuchi knelt next to her and put his arm on her shoulder.

"It's ok… Just let it out."

His voice soothed Ryoko, and she rested her head against his chest. 'Atatakai…' she thought as she drifted off into a world of half-sleep. Ametsuchi held her in a loose embrace. 'Just let it all out…' he whispered to no one. Ryoko stirred a bit in his arms, 'because… I love him…' her words coming out even though she was asleep. He just looked down at her, and let a tear escape. 'Seiyako…'

Sixteen years ago…

"What did you say?!" Achika was standing between her son and the door.

Ametsuchi was holding a knapsack, apparently heading for the door. "I'm off to find my destiny." He answered with spark.

"What are you talking about?!"

"My destiny," Ametsuchi tried to sound tough, but it just came out comical. "Jii-chan was talking about my place in the world. So I began to start thinking about it. If I go out into the world, maybe I can find what I was meant to do."

"So this was otousan's fault?" Achika grabbed Ametsuchi's arm and dragged him along. "Let's go talk to this great philosopher right now!"

"There, perfect." Katsuhito set down his paper, after finishing a haiku.

The door burst open, and an enraged Achika stood in the doorway holding onto Ametsuchi. "What are you trying to do to my kid?! Instilling this nonsense into his head!"

"Kaasan, it's not nonsense," Ametsuchi protested, but went silent after his mother tightened her grip on his arm.

"What is this all about?" Katsuhito looked at his offspring. "What 'nonsense'?"

Achika walked up to her father and held Ametsuchi up to him in a rather awkward position. "This nonsense about him 'finding his destiny' and leaving his poor mother."

"Well…" Katsuhito started.

"I'M NOT DONE YET!!" Achika interrupted. "Why are you trying to make him runaway?! Talking to him about this and that!! You should be ashamed!"

"Well…" Katsuhito tried again.

"DON'T INTERUPT ME!!" Her face was getting flush now. "He's only seven!!"

"Um…" Achika wasn't listening, or stopping for that matter. After what seemed like an eternity for Katsuhito, she finally calmed down.

"So I want you to get this nonsense out of his head! And you better!" She released her hold of Ametsuchi and walked out. "Dinner will be ready in three hours!" she yelled from outside the shrine.

Ametsuchi rubbed his arm, which had now become red. His grandfather stood up and got a glass of water; which he gave to the boy. He drank thirstily, but still slightly bothered by the pain in his arm.

"She's got quite a temper, hasn't she?" the old man broke the silence.

"I don't know what her problem is…" Ametsuchi said defiantly. "I was just finding my destiny."

"Oh! 'Just finding your destiny' eh?" slightly amused he continued, "Your mother is just worried about your safety. A little kid going alone into the world is quite a thing indeed!"

"But…"

"Not 'but's! Where did you get such a crazy idea anyway?"

"You said that I gotta find out my point in life on my own, so I figured that I should do it now." The look in his eyes now seemed quite different than that of a young boy. His grandfather noticed it as well.

"That's something you find out when you are older, my boy." He chuckled, but stared deeply into his grandson's eyes. "Why do you want to find it out so quickly?"

"I dunno…" came the reply with a shrug, "Just something I feel I gotta do. Something telling me to do it."

'So he's feeling the power… at such a young age. Amazing.' Katsuhito was lost in thought. 'Imagine what type of power he could produce…' He stood up and headed toward a wooden chest. "I want you to have something…"

"What is it Jii-chan?" the boy tried to see what his grandfather was doing.

"It's something I wanted you to have, but I didn't plan on giving it to you this early. However, I think now is a good enough time as ever." He opened the wooden chest and pulled out a rather long object wrapped in silk. Walking over to his grandson, he set it in Ametsuchi's hands. Ametsuchi unraveled the silk with vigor. Inside was a two-handed sword in a scabbard. The design of the scabbard was both simple and elaborate at the same time. Gold and silver fabric covered the outside, along with a gold lining at the ends. The handle of the sword had a crisscross black and gold patter with a gold star in the middle. Ametsuchi pulled the blade halfway out. The blade was clean and perfectly shaped.

"Jii-chan…" Ametsuchi stared at the shiny metal. "It's beautiful… and yet…"

"And yet?" He asked, already know the answer.

"And yet… I… I…don't know…" he lied.

"Sou ka?" came with a chuckle. "Well, you better leave this here for now. After dinner tonight I have something else planned."

"What is it Jii-chan?"

"You'll see. Run along now" He gestured Ametsuchi toward the door. The boy quickly was out the door and running toward the house, "You'll see…"

Present…

Ryoko opened her eyes, trying to wake up. She didn't remember falling asleep. Last she thought she was outside in a tree, but that had been hours ago. The space pirate dazedly peered around most the room. Finally it dawned on her that she was in Ametsuchi's room. In his bed even. 'Funny' she thought, 'He's been here a month and even though this use to be my room… It's different… What the hell happened last night?' The room was somewhat darkened, the only light was coming from a partially closed curtain. She peered outside through the window next to the bed, and realized that it was obviously near noon. 'How long did I sleep?' She shifted her head to the other side of the room when she heard what sounded like the rustling of paper. She tried to adjust her cat-like eyes in the dim lighting, and saw Ametsuchi sitting at his desk looking at a book it seems. Ryoko groaned, still groggy and not fully awake. Hearing the noise, Ametsuchi quickly slammed the book shut and turned around.

"Oh, you're awake!" He said with a grin. "Sleep well?"

"What am I doing in here?" she asked sleepily.

"Well, you fell asleep outside, so I figured I'd carry you in." he quickly explained. "Plus, to resolve anything happening between you and someone else, I put you in my room. No one would think of finding you here."

"Thanks…" Ryoko rubbed her eyes and sat up a bit. Part of her shirt fell loosely over her shoulder, revealing some cleavage. "I guess…"

Ametsuchi didn't even seem to notice. "Want me to open the curtain or get you something to eat?"

"Some food would be good…" The blue hair space pirate was beginning to function now. "Thanks… Thanks, I don't think I can face him right now. Or anyone for that matter."

Ametsuchi cracked a smile, and was out the door.

Ryoko ate heartily, stopping only for a second to drink some more juice. "This is really good."

"You think so?" Ametsuchi was pleased.

Ryoko sat on the bed still. She hadn't washed up yet. Ametsuchi had prepared some eggs, bacon, and toast for her. He was sitting on the other side of the room in his chair, backwards, facing Ryoko. "I'm glad you like it. It's been awhile before I had to cook for someone else."

"Well…" She said with her mouth full. "It's really good." She chugged the orange juice and laid her fork down. "Done!"

"My my, you sure ate that fast! Next time you better slow down or you'll get fat." He joked.

"Quiet you! I'll always have a perfect figure." She raised her arms in the air to show herself off and winked.

Ametsuchi laughed. "Oh, of course!" he said sarcastically. "By the way, everyone is out right now. If you want to, you should take a bath."

"Good idea." Ryoko stacked the glass on the plate and threw it at Ametsuchi "Think fast."

He caught it with ease. "Now that wasn't very nice…"

"Just as I thought." Ryoko said, proud of herself. "You sure have quick reflexes. Probably do to your Jurain blood."

"Hmmm… probably."

'So he knew… there is more to this guy than meets the eye.' Ryoko gave a sly smile. "You've been here for about a month, and I still don't know much about you. Why don't you open up a bit."

"I don't know…" he tried to duck it, but couldn't it.

Ryoko batted her eyes and smiled "Please!"

"Fine…" he sighed.

"Goodie goodie!" the space pirate was acting more like a child than a pirate. "First you gotta tell me why you left home in the first place."

"Hmm, ok. But only if you tell me how you came to live here."

"Deal." She beckoned Ametsuchi to sit next to her; which, after much effort, he did.

They conversed for what seemed like hours. They laughed, and joked, and just talked for hours. Noon quickly became afternoon. Afternoon became dusk, and dusk became night. Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Sasami calling for dinner.

"Is it dinner time already?" Ametsuchi looked at the clock, and realized it was now dark out.

"I haven't even taken a bath yet!" Ryoko lifted her body off the bed and frowned. "I'm dirty…"

"There is a bath over at the shrine. You should be able to teleport over there and use it. After you're done just come back and I'll bring you up some dinner. Unless of course you want to eat with everyone?" He was at the door already.

"No…" Ryoko said after a long pause. "I think I'll eat up here again if you don't mind."

"Of course I don't mind."

Ametsuchi's room was actually Ryoko's before he came back. But now, now Ryoko couldn't even tell it was the same room. Sure it was the same room, but everything looked so different and foreign. The bed was positioned under the window, a desk to the right of the door. The only other piece of furniture was a bookshelf that was oddly placed in the middle of the wall across from the closet. 'The man sure doesn't live extravagantly.'

Now that Ametsuchi had Ryoko's room, Sasami, Aeka, and Ryoko had to share a room. It was fine at first, but now with the increasing hostility things got ugly, fast. One night Ryoko happened to step on Aeka's hairdryer, which Ryoko had stolen. Battle lines were drawn. Ryoko had access to the east, Aeka the west. Both were allowed to use the door, but could not cross into the other's territory. Unfortunately, Sasami was always stuck in the middle.

Ryoko couldn't take it much longer; she had to snoop. Finally she gave into her curiosity and started peeking around. First she tried the closet. Just a few articles of clothing, nothing more. 'Hey… A T-shirt. Never seen this before. He always seems to be wear the same thing. Just like Katsuhito.' She closed the closet up and went toward the desk. She opened a few drawers but nothing caught her eye, except for the old looking book on the top of the desk. It was a black book with gold trim, and had obviously seen some wear. Her golden eyes looked at it with interest. 'No one will know.' She swiped up the book and leaned against the wall.

Flipping through the pages, Ryoko stopped on a random page. 'Hmmm? What's this?' The page contained some hand-written notes. 'Seems like a journal of some sort.' She continued flipping through the book, and stopped when a loose piece of paper fell on the floor. Closing the book, she bent down to examine it. After unfolding the paper, it was revealed to be a sketch of a woman. 'I wonder who this… She sure is pretty.'

"Ryoko?… I brought you some…" Ryoko fumbled to put the book and sketch back on the desk, but failed. "What are you doing?" Ametsuchi was standing in the doorway with a plate of food.

"I… um…" gaining some courage, she held out the sketch. "Who's this?"

Ametsuchi shut the door and stepped closer to the paper Ryoko was holding. "Who's who?" He set the food on the desk and snatched the sketch from her hand. "This…."

"Who is she?" Ryoko said with anticipation, that quickly turned to fear when she saw the look on Ametsuchi's face

Ametsuchi's eyes were on fire. He desperately tried to regain his composure. "Where did you find this?" He said coldly through clenched teeth.

"I…" Ryoko was taken aback, "I found it in that book." She timidly pointed toward the book that she had earlier managed to toss on the table.

Ametsuchi's gaze seemed to burn a hole through Ryoko's skull. "Just don't." his voice was full of rage. "Just don't go through that again."

"I… um.." Ryoko was still shocked at the display of anger that was in front of her. Not wanting to hurt her new found friendship, she apologized. "I'm sorry. Really I am. I won't do it again. I promise."

Suppressing his anger, Tenchi's brother put the sketch back into the book. Cursing himself for not hiding it earlier, he put the book into the drawer and locked it. "I brought you some food." He pointed to the plate on the desk. He walked outside and returned a few moments later with a small table. "Here we go." He said while setting it down in the middle of the room.

"Thank you…" Ryoko sat down while Ametsuchi placed the food on the table. "You are so kind to me."

"I'm going to drop in on Tenchi and Jii-chan's sword practice, I'll be back in a bit." He opened the door, and turned to her.

"Oh… ok. Maybe we can talk a bit when you get back." Ryoko chimed in.

"Heh maybe," Ametsuchi turned to leave, but stalled. "She was a friend of mine."