The Woods:
Mecha Sakuya lurked behind a tree and tiptoed slowly; gun in hand. She can hear Sakuya's sniffles - feet crushing the cherry blossoms.


---


Washu's Lab:
"OOOOH MY!" Ryoko is in shock at what she sees on the screen. "That's right by the cabin; the one where I caught Ayeka and Tenchi...AUGH!"
Washu bows her head with a downcast glance at the floating laptop as she zooms in on the scene before them. "Yes, you're right. Look, I'm sorry. I know how you want Tenchi even more than you want to destroy Sakuya. Am I right?"
Mouth hung open, she turns away, "I....yes, of course. I'd never harm Tenchi. I love Tenchi." A tear trickles down her cheeks.
"I hardly see you get like this. It's good...it really is...come here," Washu opens her arms to her daughter. It's a first. Ryoko doesn't retaliate, she just excepts the offer.


---


Close to the Open Field near the Masaki Residence:
Sakuya trudges further along not looking at where she's going.
M.S. snickers to herself as she looks on at her forlorn target. "So weak.. Soo weaaak. No love resides in that body." She sniffs and blinks three times, still with finger on the trigger waiting for a good aim. "Just a bit more and you'll be in view..."


---


Near the Cabin:
Ayeka continues her jaunt walk on her search for Tenchi. About to yell out his name again, she sees the cabin and stops in her tracks. He's there..
There he sits, head in hands at what just happened. He doesn't get Sakuya. He doesn't understand why she won't just reveal what's wrong so he can help her. Shaking his head, he runs his hands shakily through his hair. It's a cute mess.
Ayeka can't help but grin and come up towards him slowly as to surprise him, "Lord Tenchi.."
He glances up into her ruby eyes and his worrisome expression disappears into oblivion. "Lady Ayeka...erm..." he scratches his head in sheepishness.
"What's on your mind? You seem troubled.." He puts his hand on her shoulder and she flinches slightly at thoughts from the last time they were here ..together. "Please tell me you won't get mad....I heard you'd put this behind you.."
"What is it Tenchi?" her voice disappears in her throat at the first uttering of Sakuya's name. Her eyebrows furrow and her eyes are downcast as she tries to turn away from Tenchi's pleading eyes. "T...T...TENCHI!!" a tear trickles down her face as her shoulders shake, "Why did that wench come here? I said I'd put it behind me...be..because I thought she had gone..." She turns her head away.


Tenchi puts his arms around her as her shoulders heave from her tears; the wetness falls onto his sunburnt arms. "Lady Ayeka....please look at me..."
Her eyes open wide as she turns around; mouth slightly agape. He pulls her in close to him and she can breathe the smell of his skin as the sunlight descends in the distance. He wraps her in his arms and says, "We share something very special...I'm crowned Prince of Jurai..."
"Aaah..." Ayeka sighs as if she was going to faint at the words coming from Tenchi's mouth.. She can't believe it's true!
"And I should've done this a looong time ago.." he laughs to take away from the seriousness, "but...Lady Ayeka...I...I..."


Gun shots are heard in the distance.


---


Washu's Lab:
Ryoko shakes herself away from Washu when she sees a good view of the screen. Sakuya is about ten feet from the robot. She sees the robot raise her gun slowly...a sweat drop appears on her forehead, "Aaah...AAAAAH!" incredulously Ryoko grips her cold cup of saki in suspense at the scene before her. "It's really going to happen!!"
Washu grins proudly, "Of course, it is. I'm a genius!!" *puppets appear* 'You're the best Washu!! You're the GREATEST, Washu! The Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe!!' "YEAAAAH!!"


Sakuya is 5 steps away...4...3....2.....


M.S. pops out from behind the tree as the real Sakuya flinches in shock and a few practice gunshots go off in the air *popPOPzzaaaaapPOP* Sakuya covers her ears and drops to the ground.


M.S. comes in closer and stops in her tracks as her hard face softens...


---


The Cabin:
When the gunshots stop Tenchi knows he must say what he is about to say before more troublesome antics stop him again. I must..I must not let Ryoko or any of them get to me... They're always causing havoc and I can never profess my real emotions. This is my last chance...don't blow it..don't blow it...!! He clenches his fist and almost losing nerve he yells out, "I...I loveyouayeka!!" he says it so fast he almost loses breath.


Ayeka stares in shock..."What did you just say?"
Tenchi takes her in his arms. "I said I love you," he says it calmly and his eyes soften and tears stream down ayeka's cheeks. He wipes them away and kisses her softly.


---


The Woods:
M.S. pats Sakuya on the head and walks away.
"Love....I can sense it..."


---


Yugi's Lair:
"OH NO!!! I'm going to KILL that girl!!! She didn't get them away from Tenchi!! She's a FAILURE!!!"
Her assistant laughs unceremoniously, "You never said who he had to love. Who knew that boy would get up the nerve for that princess..." she giggles a few more times behind her hand.
"SILENCE!!! Get me my weapons. THAT girl is USELESS!! AAAAAAH MY plans are RUINED!!"