* Standard
Disclaimer **
** All the
characters and places described herein are the property of Pioneer and AIC and
probably a bunch of random Japanese people. I don't have any money for
you, so you'd be wasting your time if you tried to sue me!
** The following
is a work of fiction. Any
Resemblance
to real people or situations is purely coincidental.
**
/Standard Disclaimer **
** Author
note**
** As with
all authors, comments are more than welcome, flames however will be used to
toast marshmallows.
**THE
RATING: The rating was moved up to PG-13 not because of this chapter but
because of the upcoming ones, which will include some violence and 'suggestive
themes', but nothing that bad…**
Chapter 2:
Ayeka had received the news of her
father's illness, and when she was informed his condition was worsening, she
was willing to leave Tenchi to visit. Ayeka and Sasami packed up some of their
belongings and left for Jurai via a Jurain ship sent to take them there. Sasami
had asked if she could bring Ryo-oh-ki with her as a pet (not a spaceship), and
Ryoko said it was okay as long as she could bring enough carrots. Before
leaving Ayeka assured Tenchi she'd "be back before that 'demon woman' gets her
filthy paws on you." Sasami translated that as being a little less than a
month.
******************************************************
Over the last three days since
Ayeka left, Tenchi seemed a little more comfortable. He would slouch on the couch watching scary movies with Ryoko,
and occasionally Washu when they could drag her out of her lab, or simply play
board games without the constant arguing between Ayeka and Ryoko over who
cheated in the last round. The house seemed empty, Nobuyuki was working,
Katsuhito was always at the shrine, Washu was in her lab all day, and Sasami,
Ryo-oh-ki, and Ayeka weren't home…
Ryoko sat
next to Tenchi at the table laughing at her own jokes. Nobody else showed up
for breakfast that morning, they were probably afraid of the food Tenchi and
Ryoko had cooked. Mihoshi and Kiyone were out on their morning patrol, and as
much as Ryoko complained that Mihoshi was annoying, she missed laughing at her
clumsiness. Tenchi glanced at the clock several times, causing Ryoko to ask
what he was waiting for. Tenchi sighed, "Ryoko, I have to go back to school."
"What?! No!
Don't leave me home by myself! Take me with you!"
"Really
Ryoko, school is nothing you want to go to. It's long, boring and you have to
work all day."
"…How long
until you have to leave me?" Ryoko asked sadly.
"We got up
early today so I still have about an hour and a half left at home."
Ryoko darted into Washu's lab leaving Tenchi
quite confused at the table.
******************************************************
"So what do you think?" Washu asked smiling proudly.
"Oh Wash- I
mean Mom, I look great! Thanks so much!"
"Okay
Little Ryoko, just remember our promise! You gotta call me mom from now on,
kay?"
"Err…fine."
Ryoko twirled in a circle in front of the tall mirror. "My hair looks so cute
in a braid! Dude, I am one sexy space pirate!" Ryoko grinned blew a kiss to the
mirror, and continued to gaze at her self.
"It's not
like I'm saying I'm the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe or
anything," Washu said sarcastically, "but if I were you, I'd go show Tenchi
before you miss the bus."
"Yeah…What?!
Miss the bus? Oh my god, I forgot! See-ya 'Mom'!"
Ryoko was
about to phase through the door of Washu's lab, when instead she thought it
might be nice if she walked out the door. She reached for the handle and slowly
turned it. Tenchi was at the door putting on his shoes, his back facing her.
She whistled to catch his attention. He stood up and turned to say bye when he
saw her. Tenchi's mouth hung open, as his eyes grew wide. He stared at her, his
eyes taking in every detail of her perfect figure: small black shoes,
knee-length black skirt, and a white shirt with a black jacket. It took him a
few minutes to realize this was the same outfit all the girls at his school
wore. Then he noticed Ryoko's hair, pulled back into a braid behind her.
"Tenchi,
we're gonna miss the bus…um- hello? Tenchi?" Ryoko waved her hand in front of
his face.
"Wha-?
Ryoko you look, y-your really, um good…" Tenchi stuttered nervously.
"Good?
That's it? Just 'good'?"
"No you
look-"
"I look really
hot don't I?" Ryoko said walking towards him. Tenchi blushed slightly and
nodded a bit. "Heh, so what' ya think about me going to your school?"
"I-I, um…"
"Oh damn, I
don't wanna miss the bus come on hurry!" Ryoko picked up the backpack Washu had
given her and handed Tenchi his. She grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the
house.
******************************************************
Ryoko sat happily next to Tenchi on the bus to school.
"Ryoko, you know you can't use any of your powers in school, right?"
"Uh-huh."
"Your
alright with that?
Anything to
be here with you." Ryoko said smiling. Tenchi slipped his hand between the two
of them and held Ryoko's hand. She blushed slightly and rested her head on
Tenchi's shoulder.
"Ryoko… you
know you also gotta act more…um, normal." Ryoko sat up wearing a very hurt
expression on her face.
"So know my
attitude isn't good enough for you? If I'm not normal what am I?" Tenchi took a
few moments to search for exactly the right words.
"Special,
very special." Ryoko was satisfied enough so she rested her head on Tenchi's
shoulder again.
"So I gotta
act like Ayeka?"
"…No,
that's a little too proper for a teenage school girl…" Tenchi mumbled to
himself, without realizing how close Ryoko's ear was to his mouth. Ryoko's eyes
lit up quickly,
"So, if you
think she's a snot you should marry me!"
"I never
said she was a snot! This is exactly what I'm talking about! Don't do that when
we get to school!"
"Calm down,
my god I'm only kidding! So I just act like Kiyone?"
"Um… yeah,
only happier, almost like a more mature Sasami."
"Okay…"
Ryoko yawned and closed her eyes resting her head on Tenchi's shoulder for the
rest of the ride to school.
******************************************************
"Class I would like to introduce a new student, Miss Ryoko
Habuki. Ryoko, why don't you have a seat next to Tenchi Masaki? He's the boy in
the forth row next to-" The teacher noticed Ryoko already seated next to
Tenchi, "Oh, well I see you've found your way around rather quickly."
"Well, um,
I'm a very close friend of Tenchi's family and a- I'm staying at his house… as
a, a, um…transfer student," Ryoko stuttered nervously.
"Oh how
nice! Tenchi can help you around school, how fortunate your both in the all the
same classes! So…where are you from? When did you arrive?
"I- um,
well, I arrived at the beginning of the summer vacation, and I'm from, um…well
you see, I sorta…well…"
"Ah gomen,
I don't mean to embarrass you, maybe we can talk after class?"
"Um…sure."
Ryoko looked at Tenchi to see if what she said was believable. He smiled,
nodded, and turned his attention back towards the teacher
******************************************************
It was
lunchtime and the cafeteria was filling quickly. Ryoko followed Tenchi next to
a table and seated herself next to him. "Today's been great so far, I'm so glad
I decided to come!" Ryoko commented while taking the sandwich Washu made her,
out of a brown bag. She observed the
small juice pack in her hand for a few moments before asking, "What the hell do
I drink it with? Where's the straw?"
"Washu was
so excited, she probably forgot to check if it came with a straw. I'll go get
one, be right back." Tenchi headed to the lunch line to get a straw while Ryoko
waited patiently.
"Hey Baby.
What' sup?" Ryoko turned to see a tall boy with dark hair behind her.
"Uh…hello,"
Ryoko smiled and turned back to her lunch.
"C'mon now,
don't be shy cutie. How about coming with me to the pool party Hikari's
throwin'?" The boy grinned and sat in Tenchi's seat. Tenchi was walking back to
the table when he noticed that Hiro was pestering Ryoko.
"Pool
party? It's freezing outside!" Ryoko said between mouthfuls of her sandwich.
"You must
not know Hikari. She's the most popular and richest girl in the whole school!
She's got an indoor pool, and I've heard it's huge, but…" Hiro grinned, "The
best part is, I've heard she's got lots of rooms just in case you and me wanna-"
Ryoko let her sandwich fall to the table. She spun around quickly, anger
visible in her eyes.
"Go away!"
Ryoko tried to keep her temper under control, "There's no way in hell I'm goin'
with you."
"Oh, c'mon!
You gotta be tired of Tenchi by now! You've been stuck with that loser all
summer!"
"You know…
your right. I have been with Tenchi all summer! But the funny part is… I'm not
sick of him. Yet, I've been with you only minutes… and I'm already sick of
you!"
Hiro glared
angrily at Ryoko… she publicly embarrassed him, and he wouldn't forget it! He
glanced to his side to see two other teenage boys laughing at him. Their laugh
quickly turned into a nervous giggle when Hiro narrowed his eyes and waved his
fist at them. He turned back to Ryoko. "What the hell's the matter with you?!
Any girl would feel privileged to be asked out by me!"
Ryoko
smiled, "Good. So take your goddamn pride and glory to other deeply
'privileged' people, at other tables. Bye-bye, have a nice day!"
Hiro
tightened his fist and walked away, glaring at everybody he passed. When he
reached his own table, a few of his friends sat around him.
"So… now
what? You gonna get her back for that?" one
asked.
"She's a
girl, I can't beat her up, but… heh, heh. I'll take that out on Tenchi."
Tenchi walked back to the table pretending he didn't see
anything that happened. The second he sat down, Ryoko questioned him about the
pool party. "So…um, Tenchi. You didn't happen to get an invitation to a pool
party did you?!"
"Actually… I did. I wasn't planning on going, but if you
wanna go you can come. Hikari gave invitations to the guys only and told them
to bring their girlfriends."
Ryoko's face was glowing, "So you'd take me as your girlfriend?!"
Tenchi blushed, "Well, I…um... I –I guess. But you can't
tell anyone at home! Not even Washu, or Ryo-oh-ki when she gets home!" Ryoko
beamed with joy and pulled Tenchi into a bone-breaking hug.
******************************************************
Ryoko and Tenchi stepped off the bus and made their way
towards home.
"So Tenchi, when exactly is this party?"
"It's 1:00 this Saturday… that's in three days."
Ryoko made a mental note to herself: *Hmm… I've got three
days to get Washu to find a place where they sell fashionable bathing suits… I
wouldn't want other girls to think that just because I'm from outta town, I'm
outta style. And of course, it wouldn't hurt to get some extra attention from
Tenchi!*
Somewhere in Washu's lab:
"Oooo! My baby's grown up and wants to be cool and in style!
Well don't you worry my darling! I'll make sure my lil-girl will win Tenchi's
heart for sure! Watch out Tenchi, your in for a little surprise… heh, heh,
hahahaHAHAHA!!!!!!" Washu laughed as she watched Tenchi and Ryoko walk towards
the house, in her small holographic computer, just as she had watched Ryoko's
entire day at school.
******************************************************
The monochrome embroidery from the infinite abyss of another
universe, sheltered a sapphire light that whirled into a heavenly being, arms
extended ahead of her. She controlled with her arms, her body, and her entire
existence, the rotation of the planets, the lifespan of the stars, and most
importantly, the fate of all living beings. From as far in the past as she
could remember, millions upon billions of years ago, she promised herself never
to take the fate of another into her own hands… she would let them create their
own destiny by their individual actions. As the time passed, it was becoming
harder and harder to keep this promise to herself.
Then a
whisper that undoubtedly was her own, emitted from around her. It seemed to
bounce off each particle it came in contact with, sending echoes of her
harmonious, serene, voice in every direction. "Please dear Sister… do not interfere
with the lives of two beings just as powerful as we are…" Tsunami let her head
bow lower as a teardrop slid down her cheek, "P-please Washu… don't intervene.
Sister we desperately need your help to start over, and I need you to try and
forgive me… for this!"
In a flash
Tsunami raised her hands and everything in the universe stopped. "We're going
to start over when you get here…" She concentrated hard and a flash of white
light absorbed everything. "We're going to start over!" As quickly as it had
stopped, the universe went back to normal, the change noticed by no one, no one
except Washu.
Washu let out a long bloodcurdling shriek and now laid
unconscious on the floor of her lab, forgotten thoughts now flooding her mind…
******************************************************
Authors Note:
I'm sooo sorry this took so long, but I was really busy with
studying (yeah, right!) for my end of the year finals and state tests. The
majority of this chapter was just fun stuff concerning Ryoko's first day at
school. The next chapter will focus mainly on "Washu's New Mission", which
takes on a very serious approach. So stay tuned… Tell me what you think!
Private questions/comments email to ryokom@optonline.com!
Make the subject of the emails: "In Pursuit Of Love" please!!! We'll I'll see
you next time! **Mooch!**
