Author: Tenko
Title: Ryoko's Truth
Chapter 3: Tenchi Wakes Up
Disclaimer: I don't own Tench in any shape form or way so don't sue me!
Annoying Author Notes: This story started out being Ryoko's thoughts about the household...then it went to her emotions and now its not even Ryoko thinking anymore! Maybe I should make those first chapters one long prologue and start writing a story, what do you think? Ok, this is going to be from Tenchi's POV and maybe I'll kick in some other people. Shhh, don't kill me if he's OOC! Well I wrote this story when I was in a really strange mood...so it's kinda written in a time-tense that would make my English teacher scream. hehe It sorta is like past tense except his thoughts...which is messed up...yeah! These aren't thoughts anymore, this is going into story form! Why does every R/T story always have Tenchi love her already or Ryoko get kidnapped or killed? And why does Tenchi only call Ayeka 'Miss' or 'Lady'? Oh well (the unsolved mysteries of Tenchi Muyo! or shall I say This Side Up? *Tenchi and Muyo together also means 'this side up', isn't that weird?)...Enjoy...Weeeee...
I walked down the creaky stairs in the middle of the night. I don't know what possessed me to do so, but sure enough I was fully dressed standing at the bottom of the stairs. My eyes finally began to adjust to the darkness so I stumbled to find the kitchen doorway. Something doesn't feel right. What couldn't feel right? Ayeka and Sasami's door was closed meaning they were there, Mihoshi and Kiyone were living in their apartment, and Dad and Grandfather are fine, too. A light sniffling sound startled me. It was coming from the rafter...that Ryoko always slept on.
"Meow, reowww," I heard Ryo-Ohki 'say'. I found the kitchen doorway and ducked in so I could listen. It sounded almost like Ryoko was crying. Ryoko crying? Unlikely.
"No Ryo-Ohki I'm ok. Stupid little thing *sniff* shouldn't you be sleeping with Sasami? You know she doesn't feel safe without you there..." Ryoko tried to snap but it came out softly. Ryoko wasn't my favorite alien but the way she sounded made my heart twist.
"mewww, mrowww!" Ryo-Ohki sounded concerned about Ryoko.
"Fine, if you have to know why I look like this...it's because I was thinking, about Kagato, ok?"
"HISSSSSSSSS!"
"Yeah, that's what I say," Ryoko said with a faint laugh. "Get out of here Ryo-Ohki."
There was a light thud that was undoubtedly Ryo-Ohki jumping from Ryoko's rafter. Is this why I felt uneasy? Because of Ryoko? There were a couple sniffles and then it sounded like Ryoko had taken a deep breath to calm herself. I should go see what's wrong...
"Ryoko? Are you ok?" I stepped out and found the light switch. She looked surprised to see me and unshed tears were in her eyes. I opened my mouth to say something else, but I guess I was...I don't know scared to.
"Ha, Ha, of course I am Tenchi! When I have not been okay?" Her voice when she tried to speak her last words. Again my heart lurched. I haven't seen Ryoko like this since when I went to fight Kagato and even then she wasn't like this. Then she was scared I would be hurt, but what was wrong now?
"Ryoko..."
"It's nothing, Tenchi, ok?" She was up and she flew through the ceiling. I was left standing there with my mouth hanging open like an idiot. Ryoko was really upset...and it's raining outside. Without thinking I ran to the door, slipped on my nearest pair of slippers, and grabbed the umbrella from America I had gotten last summer (grandparents...).
I gently slide the door shut behind me as I stepped into the storm. I walked down to the eerily calm lake and started to look around. She wasn't anywhere around the lake, the surrounding forest, or her favorite spot--the roof. I was really starting to worry about her, she was acting so strange and what was she upset about?
"Ryoko! Ryoko where are you? RYOKO!" My voice just echoed back through the mountains mocking me. I shivered slightly. Maybe she went up the steps to the shrine. I doubt that she would walk when she could fly. I walked towards the steps straining to see or hear anything that might be Ryoko. When I finally reached the stairs I took them two or three at a time, something felt wrong. I reached the stairs panting and sweating...no wait; wet, I guess I dropped the umbrella. She wasn't there or anywhere. Suddenly, I just felt lost. I don't know why, but I felt lost, that's the best way to describe it. My feet began to wander as did my mind.
Ever since I let Ryoko out of that cave she's been doing nothing but trying to kill me, seduce me, or trick people into believing I love her. I'm such a coward, I never stand up to it. I just stand there and let Ayeka and Ryoko fight. Over me. Am I a coward...or do I like the idea? That was a new that had crept into my mind. Do I like having Miss Ayeka and Ryoko fight over me? Why do I only call Ayeka 'Miss'? Sasami's a princess, too. Why am I thinking these things? Oh great, I'm on the verge of a mental breakdown. "Who do you love Tenchiii?" "Yes I think it's time you choose!"
Who do I love? I never really thought of it too much. Just when I thought Miss Ayeka would leave it saddened me, but I felt she had to go. It was sad seeing Mihoshi & Sasami go, but not like the way it was seeing Lady Ayeka. How did I feel when Ryoko was going to leave? She was never going to leave so I don't know. Ryoko...
Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the cave. Ryoko's cave. I've always come here...ever since I was little, I've always felt a presence. Now the presence was gone. It was just a dull looking old cave with a few Shinto signs letting everyone know this was sealed with an evil demon inside. Ryoko's not an evil demon. What am I thinking? She attacked Jurai, me, and Earth! No, no, no that wasn't that Kagato? I can't tell anymore...
Suddenly it was a hot day in midsummer and the crickets & frogs could be heard all over the place. The trees where all lush and green and I sat on a rock by the cave. I was so small, four or five maybe (*My, my, my, Tenchi's mighty young to be having unsupervised fires don't you think?), making sweet potatoes on my tiny fire. I reached up to pull one of the stick, but it was too hot! I dropped it and it bounced away! I got up and ran after it yelling, "Hey, get back hereeee!"
There was laughter. It was a laughter I could barely hear, no I couldn't hear it at all. I could feel it. Suddenly the potato stopped bouncing and it felt like someone was handing it to me (*Shhhh, Ryoko's Astreo body can make solid, non-living things move/stop in my story, shhhhh*). It was the presence...it was Ryoko. I turned around and I could see her smiling at me, she moved back to her seat on a rock that she had been by and sadness cloaked her beautiful amber eyes. Beautiful?
I shook my head to wake up and get back to reality. There were so many memories that I have or Ryoko...before I let her out. She was the reason I felt safe here. I guess I had never thought about it that way. Again another flashback took over my mind; my mother's death. It was cold and it was snowing the day I found out. My father had been the one to tell me. I was devastated so I ran to the cave and cried in front of it. I felt like someone was there comforting me; it was Ryoko. While I cried my face buried in my arms, she held me the best she could in an Astreo body, I felt her there. The same when my grandmother died. She's always been there...she didn't really want to kill me when I first let her out. She wouldn't ever do something like that. I realized now that I'd treated her badly, terribly; I'd forsaken her in so many ways and I hadn't the slightest clue. Hadn't the slightest clue...
*********** Time lapse, *hears freaky twilight zone music
and thwaps Nick @ Nite (yes Nite, right? A rhyme!)*
"Tenchi..."
"Tenchi..."
"Tenchi!" The soft voice of Ryoko was in my ears...
"Tenchi! Oh, good you're awake! I'll go tell the others!" My vision was a little fuzzy and I didn't feel that well, like I had pneumonia or a very bad case of the flu. Sasami's voice was unmistakable; full of enthusiasm as usual. I heard many footsteps coming up the stairs and to my room. The door slide open and there was everyone: Sasami, Little Washu, Lady Ayeka, Kiyone, and Mihoshi. My father was there as well, but no Ryoko.
"How are you feeling, Lord Tenchi?" Miss Ayeka asked me.
"Very sick, but how did I-I get here?"
"Ryoko brought you in. She said she found you unconscious by the cave! You must have gone out into the rainy weather without an umbrella! Here, I'll get you some chicken soup! That will make you feel better right away, okay Tenchi?" Sasami explained.
"Yes, thank you Sasami. Where is Ryoko now?"
"We don't know, after she brought you up to your room we lost track of her. Everyone went to look for her while Ryo-Ohki and I took care of you, but she wasn't anywhere," Sasami said worriedly. I was starting to get pretty worried, too.
***************
Next Chapter Sneak Peak: Where is Ryoko? Can Tenchi get well soon enough to find her? Is this story really going anywhere? Find out next time in; Ryoko's Truth!