Tenchi Muyo! or any of its characters are not mine and I am not claiming them to be. They belong to AIC/Pioneer. Bla bla bla... just don't sue me... I have to money to take -_-;;



Koi Mizu

Chapter 5: Sleepless

Nagi walked into the passageway to Ryoko's cell while hefting a large metallic cube in her hands. It was a surprisingly heavy load considered how groggy she still felt in the early hour of the morning. The bounty hunter didn't normally rise at such an hour but there was a good reason, in her mind, for this change of schedule. Setting the cube on the floor she glanced into Ryoko's room and was relieved to see that she was still sleeping.

She turned to the wall and began unclamping the magnetic bindings that held the cover in place. Unfortunately for Nagi, the bounty hunter wasn't quite ready to catch the large metallic sheet and it came crashing down with an echoing sound that pierced the silence. She gulped deeply as Ryoko stirred lightly, and then sat up rubbing her eyes. *Damn.* she idly thought.

Ryoko yawned once and noticed the company just outside the door. She floated over and leaned against the wall so that she could see Nagi working. "What's up?"

"Uh... just installing this exhaust amplifier I bought." Nagi grasped an old rusty cube frame from the wall and slid it out.

"Is that so?" She yawned again. "Where'd you get it?"

"Some junk dealer owed me." She said, sliding the new cube into the gap.

Ryoko rolled off another question. "What do ya need it for?"

Nagi responded. "It's just for some job I gotta do."

"What kinda job?"

"A job that's none of your business! Now lay off!" Nagi spat back but suddenly turned away from Ryoko.

"Alright! Sheesh." Said Ryoko. Attempting to make small talk, Ryoko tried another approach. "You've been around the galaxy, right?"

"Most of it." Her agitated tone anticipated Ryoko's ploy.

"You ever stop by a place called Zalin Prime?"

"Isn't that the planet known for its food? Yeah, I may have stopped by once or twice." Nagi began attaching the wires and cables into the ship's circuits.

"They have an excellent Dorgino grill there. I think it was called Tyu's House of Dorg. You've been right?"

"No."

Ryoko's tone was genuinely disappointed. "Aww, you should really swing by at least once. They make a killer Sewer Mangolio."

"I don't like Mangolio." Nagi responded with a hint of impatience.

"You don't? Then this calls for an occasion; we need to head there right now so you can try their food. You'll change your mind as soo-"

"No, I don't like that kind of food, so just drop it." She said while finishing connecting the last of the wires.

Not the slightest bit dejected, Ryoko continued. "Well I guess that's okay, what kinds of food do you like?"

"What do you care anyway?" Nagi asked rhetorically.

"Just interested, I guess. Think of it this way, if I ever had to buy food for you, this way I'll know what to get."

Nagi only lost more of her patience. "That's ridiculous. I already know that scenario could NEVER happen."

Ryoko smiled and spoke with a tone almost too friendly. "Hey, you never know what the future might bring."

Nagi stood up and sighed angrily. "Look, I know what your trying to do and it's not going to work."

"And what am I trying to do?" She asked accusingly.

She sighed with a cold and bitter tone. "You know, I really don't want to talk to you at all. We're not friends so stop acting like we've been buddies for years. Just a couple months ago you hated me more than anything else in the galaxy and now your all touchy feely. I'd almost say your trying to con me, and knowing you, Ryoko, that's not to far from the truth."

"Yeah well why don't you go do something about it?" Ryoko volleyed back. "I've been sitting around for two months pretty much waiting to die. Honestly I'm tired of making waves, just look where it's got me."

Nagi didn't reply. She just sharply shook her head and walked back to the cockpit. Trying to change gears to the task at hand, she entered coordinates of a small trading post and ignited the engines. It was a small moon, a bit out of the way, but she had good lead that a small bounty was to be found there. Nothing large, but money had been a little tight and she needed a novice head to tie her over for a while.

The trip was long and boring. Nagi didn't allow herself to leave the cockpit in sentiment of having to deal with Ryoko again. She spent her time mentally rehearsing the next big job after today's endeavor, half the reason to keep her mind sharp, the other half to calm her anger towards Ryoko. 'She thinks I'm so naïve' Nagi thought. By the time she finally did arrive at the destination she felt comfortably over prepared for this seemingly simple target. He was a one-time bank robber-murderer-con-artist and Nagi knew that all three acts of crime fell conveniently into his lap. So she wasn't expecting to have to deal with a very experienced person. The reward, however, was enough to draw her attention in his direction.

The port seemed more like a corner mom and pop shop rather than a place where merchants converge. There were few rickety stands to be seen, all which matched well with the surrounding atmosphere hinting that they were permanent placements. The air was saturated with polite perfumes and timid food scents that embraced Nagi like an old friend. She almost smiled when she tested it with her nose. With such an unspoken welcome she wasn't the least bit surprised to see the salesmen and woman gossiping friendly talk. She scoped the quiet strip of shops for a hidden location to watch for the target. Even the darkest corner had pleasant qualities.

She concluded on a small table positioned behind a shop stall. It had average cover and she could see the only entrance from there. It wasn't until she spotted a woman on the opposite side of the hall shooting suspicious glances at her did she realize how out of place she was. In a port such as this, a man carrying a kitchen knife wouldn't go unnoticed. Nagi was armed to the teeth, as she always was, making her body armor and weapons shine like a star on a black sky. She now began to question the legitimacy of her source. Why would a criminal, even a one-time criminal, visit a peaceful place like this? But she ignored her intuition and opted to stick around. The one bad thing about rookie criminals is that they are so unpredictable, there actually is a chance that he might show up.

The woman continued to eye Nagi. It began to irritate her and she tried to ignore it. And as to be defiant she loudly shifted her chair so that her back faced the woman. But this only caused more problems. Nagi tried to cool her anger when she felt a mouse like tap on her shoulder.

"Uh.e-excuse me." Her voice was frightened and small.

"What is it?"

"I don't- uh, I mean we. we don't want any trouble here. I-If there's anything y-you need I'll be happy to help you."

Nagi rubbed her temples. "I'm doing my job. And my job is to sit here and wait for someone. The details are none of your business. I'm not going to hurt your little slice of heaven here, I just need to be left alone." She added a bit of fire on her tongue in hopes to permanently scare the woman off.

"I-I'll leave you alone then." She walked away with speed that was almost a jog. And as soon as she did Nagi felt a pang of guilt for being so nasty with her, and accomplished for. But then again, having the luxury of being left alone was something Nagi never thought she would ever regret.

As she waited for her target, the hours passed. But the hours didn't innocently trot along like a lively walk through the park, they lurched slowly and stubbornly, as if to passively resist moving forward in time. The invading senseless chatter about gossip, the music that rivaled cooperate elevator music, and the refusal for the target to show up made Nagi shake with aggravation. Her mind rebelliously wished that the women talking would sit closer, so that she might try to pass time with a conversation, even if it was irrelevant talk. But of course, no one came due to her excellent job of scaring them off.

After what seemed like an eternity, two more hours droned by adding to the original four. Nagi stomach squeezed with hunger, but she fought the urge to purchase food at the shop three steps from her. She couldn't leave her post no matter what. Experience has been unforgiving in the past. On multiple occasions simple five minute distractions means missing a target who passed through the room, and when Nagi resumed watching she was none the wiser. Resisting the food was an uphill battle. Time mockingly slowed to savor her displeasure, and the sent of the frying foods made her stomach groan with desire. After thirty of the longest minutes of her life, she stood up to purchase a lunch. However, her eyes hardly ever left the entrance to the strip of shops, she would never forgive herself if all this waiting was wasted.

The clock read two o' five, and she was comfortably refueled with food that made the rations on her ship look like dog food. It reminded her of Ryoko's "questioning" earlier that morning and she tried to laugh it off. She decided to amuse herself for a moment and take the question seriously: what type of food did she like? The meal she just ate was a mix of tender meats spiced with mild flavors. It hit the spot, but she couldn't go as far as saying it was the best meal she's ever had. Her earliest memories of good food were moments with her mother. The both of them spent the afternoon adventurously delving into the cookbook. Nagi only being five and her mother never practicing in the trade made it a foreign language to both of them. But the cookies and cakes tasted just as sweet as any master chef would produce, for sentimental reasons.

Nagi relaxed her position significantly and a sigh escaped. How she wished that she could have the moments back in her life where the greatest worries were school, boys, and the uncomfortable bath at the end of the day. Acting as carelessly today as she did then would find her dead before the end of the day. She often wondered what it would be like to sleep in, take a shower at noon and lay about the ship useless to the world, but filled to the brim with ease. Too many things would pull her away from the fantasy, she thought. For one thing guilt would be too much to bear, for it was Nagi's belief that when one enjoys themselves, somewhere in the galaxy somebody is in equal and opposite torment.

Sadly for Nagi's sake, no one came, not even someone who was just passing through. She realized that she was probably the first new person to come to the station in weeks. But even so, she lingered for an extra half-hour to make absolutely sure the place was a dud. While she left she made a mental note to somehow exact revenge on the source that lead her to a wasted day.

Once she was back at the cockpit of the ship, she sparked life into the computer systems. She was about to ignite the engines but she heard the most startling noise. She couldn't identify it at first, but she could have sworn hit came from Ryoko's cell. With a little caution, she peered down the hallway towards the door and through the tiny window she caught a glimpse of Ryoko lying down. Must be talking in her sleep, she thought. Then she heard it again. Even though it was only a murmur it sounded as if tremendous effort was being made to make the sound. Nagi walked down the hall and made a sorrowful discovery. Ryoko was not sleeping; she was lying on her back clenching her stomach, as if she had been stabbed.

"Nagi!" She called again, this time received.

"Oh my god, Ryoko, what's wrong?" She rushed to the door, but did not open it.

"Food. haven't eaten food in over twenty four hours. Where the hell did you go?" She was just above a whisper, but Nagi could tell if given the ability, Ryoko would make her remark loud enough to shatter glass.

She remembered now that she had forgotten to leave some breakfast for Ryoko due to her immediate need to separate herself from the pirate's "small talk". Realizing that it had been a full day since her last meal a silent chord of guilt struck her ribs. Here she was eating the most satisfying meal she's had in months and Ryoko was literally starving.

"I. I guess I'm sorry." She admitted.

"Oh that's rich." Ryoko wheezed out. "This could almost be considered another attempt on my life and you're 'sorry'".

Nagi smiled. "Look, I'll make it up to you."

"You better! I was about to put myself in stasis- wait, where the hell you going now?" Ryoko tried to call Nagi but she was long gone. "Damn you." Another angry pain of hunger jolted her entire body, making her feel like an empty shell that would snap and shrivel at the slightest pressure. She clenched her teeth and swallowed her own mucus, like she had been doing for the last five hours. She knew the human body can survive for a week without food, but she wasn't about to test the fact. Unless Nagi came back in another ten minutes, she concluded to put herself into stasis.

Fortunately for Ryoko's sake, she didn't have to wait half the period before Nagi returned. And with her she carried bags of what smelled like the most glorious food on the galaxy. Nagi had gone back to the shop and bought more of the tender spicy meat that she enjoyed earlier that day. Almost miraculously, the gorgeously lush sent of the meat put what little energy she had left into her arms and legs. She sprang to her feet and was instantly at the door. Her golden eyes glistened with anticipation.

"Is. is that for me?" She cooed like a child.

"Sure is. I really didn't mean for you to starve. It honestly slipped my mind."

"Right, right, your sorry. I get it. Now hand over the goods!"

Once Nagi did so, the time it took for Ryoko to completely ingest the two full bags of tender meat, rice and spice sauce could be measured in seconds.

"More!" Ryoko demanded while still finishing up the last of the rice.

"What? You just ate three meals worth!"

"And I'm four meals behind. MORE!"

"Fine, whatever." Nagi retrieved one ration plate a tossed it at Ryoko. Needless to say, the food never hit the ground. Nagi sighed. "I hope your satisfied, money is becoming a little tight and now it's even worst."

"Yes, very satisfied, thank you." Ryoko said, chugging down a glass of water.

"Well I'm turning in early. Good night, Ryoko."

"Night."



She turned over in her sleep, quietly rustling the covers. There was a thin layer of sweat that dripped from her restless body. Her eyes seemed to glance nervously left to right under the closed lids. "No. Stay-stay away" Her mumble was barely heard and panicked at the same time.

She turned over again, this time pulling her covers off. Her cloths were soaked with perspiration and the chill in the room when straight to the bone. She began to shiver, but her loud clattering teeth wasn't enough to wake her. "No. no." Her pleas continued to go unheard in the silent room.

Finally the demon that lurked in her mind pounced on her helpless soul. She screamed out in terror, which thankfully woke her from the terrible experience. Images of her dream still fresh in her mind flaunted themselves in the blackened room, causing her to fearfully cower into the corner of the room. Then she saw something flash in the darkness. It was all that was needed to convince her that some-'thing' lurked within her room, unseen in the darkness. Her first reaction was a tingling fear, which soon followed by a still moment of silence in which she dare not move a muscle for it would instigate an attack from the beast. She was now holding her breath making the silence endlessly deafening. Once a moment passed without result she relaxed slightly but still maintained her stiffened defenses. Moment after moment passed ordinarily and the true nature of the beast was clear. *Hmp, just my imagination*, she thought. She was about to laugh for duping herself into thinking such ridiculous things before another shadow jumped across her. It was obvious now that something was there and sitting in the corner wasn't helping the situation. She finally resolved to call out to the shadow.

"Who's there?" She said with a tone that mocked her earlier, confident attitude.

"Shoa?" A worried Ken-Ohki called from the unseen edge of the room. With a shaky sigh, Nagi normally again. She was quickly over to his side of the room and picked him up. She held him close to her chest hugging him comfortably.

"Don't ever do that again, You scared me."

The little cabbit tried his best to make for himself my snuggling up to her neck. Her panicked heart shook Ken-Ohki as it failed to relax even when he pleasantly purred for her. It was many long moments of her petting his soft fur that she finally recomposed herself. Thereafter she continued petting him for his deed in providing company after her atrocious dream. She questionably glanced over to the bed that trapped her earlier. It was so unappealing she had no desire to ever sleep again. *Sleep is overrated anyway. I should take alert pills* She concluded. Giving her pet one last meaningful scratch, she stood to stretch her twined bones. And with a hypocritical yawn, she opened the door to her room.

Light from the hallway immediately flooded through her gradually opening door. She squinted harshly until her eyes were properly adjusted. Out in the hall all that could be seen was Ryoko's room. The shield around her was the only light source and it shone like an intense star in the void of space. Nagi tensed slightly to see that Ryoko wasn't resting in bed but rather awake and active, feigning punches and kicks in the air.

"Getting a little exercise?" Nagi asked approaching her.

"You could say that." Ryoko responded, not taking her attention away from her task.

"Do you always do this at night?" She questioned.

"Not really. I couldn't sleep, and after thinking for a while I realized I could get into better shape."

Of course, Nagi took this as a threat. "I hope you don't think that practicing your left hook a few times will actually change your situation."

Ryoko shrugged. "You never know what the future will hold."

Nagi let out a loud laugh. "Ha! That's just rich coming from you. Since when did Ryoko the Space Pirate ever look before she leaped?"

Ryoko stopped her exercises and turned to her, somewhat short of breath. "I guess your right. Ryoko the Space Pirate probably wouldn't think about the future too much." She resumed her training. "But me on the other hand..."

Nagi only smiled. "Real cute Ryoko."

A short silence drifted through the room. "So, why couldn't you sleep anyway?" She said trying to make conversation.

"Had a bad dream." She laughed. "Probably all that food I ate. What about you?"

Nagi let out obvious hesitation. "Uh. I had. a nightmare."

"Is that so..." She mused, pondering the coincidence. "What was it about?"

"It's not really important."

"You don't think so? I once heard if you don't tell other people your nightmares they might come true." Ryoko said warningly.

A chuckle escaped Nagi. "Silly superstition."

"Yeah. Well we both had nightmares on the same night. I'm feeling pretty superstitious right now." Ryoko stopped her practice punches for good.

"Well. I don't really feel like it." She gently dodged.

"Heh, don't worry I'll go first." Ryoko said. Nagi rolled her eyes while wondering how she managed herself into this position.

"Let's see here..." She took a moment to recall the events of her sleep. "It all started very pleasantly. I was at home, and everyone was there. Sasami was working hard on dinner, which had the sent of a glorious royal dinner. Mihoshi was breaking something and Kiyone throwing her usual fit about responsibilities and such. Even though voices were raised the general mood seemed soft and cozy. I know seems weird but the memory felt like I was hugging a giant pillow that was warm and soft I wrapped myself up in it and nearly drifted asleep inside my dream. Tenchi was there too, adding a pinch to the warm love that radiated from the home." A smile touched her face at each fond moment of the dream. "For some reason Aeka was an old maid. but that's besides the point. Pretty much everything was at its normal state.

"And then I had to leave. Perhaps it was the dream, but I can't remember exactly why I had to leave but it was really important. I felt this sudden urge that if I didn't get up and leave that very moment something horrible might happen. It felt like someone in the family-someone who helped created our cozy home-was in danger. I was frightened, I guess. Frightened that I might never come back. Afraid of the pain my departure might cause for the ones close to me, and scared for the one in danger I had to save. Even in my dream I remember shaking as I left the warm pillow that protected me.

"This is the part of the dream I don't remember. All I know is that I was successful. Whatever I had to do was done. I raced home faster than I thought possible. I was so worried that the slightest thing would go wrong when I was so close to returning. I was afraid of GP stopping me and taking me to jail forever. I thought that Ryo-Ohki would forget the way home, as ridiculous as it would sounds I was scared of even that. Even when I landed on the planet I felt so far away. I ran back to my home, and when I got there. when I got there it was in flames. Everyone was dead. My home, my comfort, my love. it was all gone. All I could do was sit there and ignorantly curse the sky. Then I woke up."

"Sounds rough." Nagi eventually noted in a bland tone.

"Yeah, But I'm feeling a lot better now."

Ryoko's voice suddenly cheered up considerably. "Okay, your turn."

"Wait a second, there aren't any turns here. I'm not going to go."

"Aww, c'mon Nagi! What's the harm in telling me a little dream you had?"

"Well, I. uh- don't think it'll be as interesting as your."

"Don't be ridiculous. Dreams are always interesting. They are always speaking what our lips cannot say." She said as if quoting someone.

"No, it's stupid. I'm not going to go."

"It's not stupid."

Nagi glared at her angrily. But Ryoko's pleading puppy dog eyes softened her hard expression.

"Please?"

"Uh..."

"Pretty, pretty please?"

"No wait. let me hear more about you." She said, desperately avoided the spotlight.

"Oh no. don't try and turn the tables on me. Your going to tell me what your dream was!"

"No-no. I really mean it. I want to know." She forced every shred of honesty into her expression.

"Well..." A goofy grin was slapped across her face. "Alright, I'll tell you about my home. It's so quiet up there on the little hill that we live on. People would come by once in a while to visit the shrine and such but those visits were so few and far between it felt more like a long distance relative coming to see you." Ryoko let out a laugh. "Oh and Yosho! You'd never tell he was a Juria King even if you slapped him under a microscope. He'll humble himself to just about anyone who sets foot on the shrine grounds. A real nice old man."

"I think I remember him. He was hurt when ran into you guys on the way to Jurai."

"Nice memory." Ryoko chuckled.

"It's an unfortunate gift."

She laughed again and continued. "Yes, Yosho was seriously injured when Kagato attacked, but that's getting off subject. The house itself was pretty large compare to other Earth homes. It had seven bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, and library. Not to mention the unlimited space of Washu's lab, which was never fully utilized. Everything that was in the closet before she took over was just stacked in a small pile next to the door inside the lab. Basically her high tech lab was an oversized closet. Washu is an interesting jewel herself. Out of all of us, even Sasami, she acted - and therefore was - the youngest. Either that lady is trying to make up for something or she really is that young. I don't think I've ever seen Washu do a serious thing in her whole life. Even when we're fighting it's all a joke, turning the enemies into water sprites." There was a short pause as she realized something: "It kinda makes you think. With all that scientific knowledge she is probably more powerful than you and me combined. And at the same time she plays around like everything is a game."

Nagi interjected. "Yeah, the little girl thought it was cute when she made that 'old western' theme arena for us on Venus."

Ryoko slowly nodded. "Yeah."

A nervous ping shot through both of them. "Even though. one of us could have died. it was all kinda funny to her." Ryoko finished.

A short silence ensued. "Ryoko, about that..."

"Yeah?" She expectedly responded.

"You could have killed me. It would have ended it all; those years of fighting would be over. You wouldn't be here now sitting in this cell, you'd be at home laying comfortably with your husband and your friends."

Ryoko laughed. "First of all. Tenchi isn't my husband. yet. Secondly, I didn't kill you because." She paused for a moment. "I don't know. everyone seemed so cheery about the whole thing. They all watched us as if we were boxers at a fight show. I'm not sure what it was. but that fight was too friendly to end in blood shed. Heh, maybe it was Washu's sporting attitude that effected us. Besides, Ryo-Ohki would have abandoned me if I did."

"Oh." Said Nagi.

"What about you?"

"Huh?"

"Why didn't you kill me?"

"I would have but. but you got away, remember? Aeka interfered." Nagi said elusively.

"Please Nagi, don't give me that. You had me completely beat. You just had to flick your wrist and I was a goner. But instead you stopped to fire at Aeka, who was releasing Tenchi from his bindings. If you think about it, it doesn't really make sense. Tenchi was no longer a factor since the trap had already been set, but you allowed yourself to get distracted anyway. I always figured that you purposely let me go."

There was a pause before Nagi responded. "Oh, that." She sighed. "Well, I. I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"No, I honestly don't know!" She repeated with annoyance. "I was so close to my goal that it made me nervous. You wouldn't have been able to tell from you position, but when you were finally beaten my hands where shaking so badly I could hardly hold the whip. I felt like I was about to jump off a cliff or something. I guess. I. just don't know."

Ryoko looked at her for a moment and attempted to figure out what to say. Ultimate she said nothing and stared at the floor. Nagi broke the silence. "I should probably get some sleep."

"No, wait." Ryoko called her back.

"I don't have anything to say."

"Nagi, why does it always have to be like this? We talk about how horrible it is that we didn't kill each other. So you couldn't go through with it. why is that a bad thing?" Ryoko questioned.

Nagi was about to leave but stopped herself. "Because we're on two sides of the fence! I'm a bounty hunter; you're a space pirate. How else are we supposed to act?"

"Who cares about what we're 'supposed' to act like. If everyone acted like they were supposed to we wouldn't have bounty hunters or space pirates. And as far as I can tell, both of those 'rolls' have ended, or else you would killed me a month ago on Coralius."

"That's because." and as if to hastily swerve through a fork in the road, Nagi blurted out, "I've decided to personally carry out your sentence instead of killing you."

"When the hell were you planning on telling me?" She asked skeptically.

"Just now."

There was a moment where nothing passed between them. Both Ryoko AND Nagi considered this sudden revelation. Nagi, having just thought up the scenario on the spot wondered what the hell she was thinking, while Ryoko wondered exactly what Nagi was trying to get at. They both reached a similar conclusion: this must be a joke.

They both grinned.

"So, judge, how long do I have?"

"I'd say you're in for life. But since you've been clean for 3 years I'll trim it down to 15-20 on good behavior."

"Good behavior, eh?" Ryoko played on. "What exactly does 'good behavior' qualify as?"

"For starters you could mind your own business. The jailer's personal life is not up for discussion." She felt pleased; thinking that some progress was being made.

"Hmm, I don't know if that's a very fair rule."

"I don't remember asking you."

"I would understand such a request under normal circumstances, but frankly, these aren't normal circumstances. It's just the two of us. I mean, it just wouldn't be FAIR is you knew everything about me and I don't know the slightest thing about you." Ryoko snickered.

"Oh no! It wouldn't be fair?" Her own sarcastic tone made her laugh. "Oh my gosh, Ryoko wants something to be fair! What about that time when you used the GP to attack me while you fled? How fair was that?"

"Please, you dug your own grave there. You're the one who fired on them, remember?"

"Whatever." She tried to change the subject. "Anyway. you were saying something earlier, about your home?"

"Eh, I don't really feel like it anymore."

"Oh you don't?" There was the ever so slightest hint of disappointment, just barely enough to raise Ryoko's eyebrows.

"Well, well, well. Is someone interested in hearing a little about myself?"

"I just meant-"

"Oh no. it's perfectly fine. If you want to hear about my life then I'll be happy to share."

"I was just saying-"

"I completely understand, you don't want to share but other sharing with you is perfectly fine, I read ya loud and clear."

"That's not what-"

"I mean, I wouldn't really feel comfortable leveling out with someone I know nothing about."

"You're getting the wrong idea-"

"I'd feel just a little better if I knew just one thing about this person."

"I'm only-"

"Maybe if we had casual talk, about nothing in particular, I would feel just a little better about sharing things about myself."

"What are you-"

"If only I knew why you were up so late. What kind of dream could spook even you."

"ALL RIGHT! GOD DAMNIT I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT MY STUPID DREAM!"

Ryoko nearly squealed in joy. "'Bout time! Now lets have it."

She shot a withering glare. "I don't know what you expect though; it's just a dream." She's sighed quickly and tried to make her story as short as possible. "It's always the same one--whenever I have a nightmare, that is. I'm in a forest and it's extremely dark. It's hard to explain. but it feels like the forest is so deep that every direction goes the same way. No matter which way I go I'll always end in the same place. And then there's the stalker. He- it- whatever it is, it's always following me. If I run harder, it chases faster, if I walk quietly, then it advances slowly. No matter what I do it's always coming closer to me. I never see it, I never hear it, I just know it's out there coming for me."

A silent chill ran through Ryoko. "Damn that's spooky."

"Uh, I guess so." Nagi quietly responded.

"You guess so?"

"Whatever, it's not important."

"Suit yourself. Buy if I had the same dream every night I would get pretty irritated."

"Uh, right. Anyway, you were saying before? About this place you stay at."

Ryoko continued with her tale, this time with s pleasant sense of victory. She felt a pinch of shame for making such an overzealous scene about this one little dream. It probably meant nothing at all, but she was still curious, it was her nature to be. It was now obvious to her that the battle between them hadn't ended at all; it just merely changed playing fields. She thought perhaps that that was the real reason Nagi spared her life, one could not flaunt a victory when the opponent is dead. Still, it doesn't make sense. It wasn't like the Nagi she knew. Its like is something inside her starting to spoil, making the Nagi on the outside act peculiar.

She was now finishing up explaining what happened after the Jurai revolution. Their adventure through time to save Tenchi's mother from Kain and the incident with Haruna a short while afterwards. Nagi seemed a tad bit more interested in that then Ryoko's boring profile of her family, especially when it involved Ryoko fighting in some way.

"You've been a busy girl." Nagi said with a tricky smile.

"I guess it's just my bad luck. Nobody ever leaves me alone." She returned sarcastically.

"So you've got this nice house, lots of friends, and a knack to attract trouble." She shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you Ryoko. I just catch em, I don't judge em."

"Are you telling me you never once judged me?" Ryoko asked skeptically.

"No, I haven't" she responded quickly.

"Bull shit." Ryoko started to laugh.

"I haven't! It's the truth. Your just another faceless criminal in my book."

This only made Ryoko laugh harder.

"Whatever. I'm going to bed. I think we've both shared equally, I say were even for the time being." Nagi said receding down the hall.

"Far from it, you still owe me a life story!" Ryoko called to her but she had already sulked back to her bed.



She sat in her room aimlessly staring. At what she was staring at was always different from moment to moment. Her small desk, the blue futon below her, the door, the gray ceiling, the vastness of space, in her mind it all seemed to blend together, connecting with one another wielding little meaning. She glanced at the miniature computer in her hand and as soon as she focused her eyes on it, it's purpose in reality seemed unimportant. It was just an object. A collection of molecules stuck together with ionic bonds. And then she would blink and reality bubbled up for moment. She punched up the main screen and checked the time. It read 2:36 A.M.

It was that moment when Ken-Ohki walked in. She knew he was there and allowed him to nuzzle under her hand. She turned on her side to idly pet him, moving her eyes to the stars outside. The ship was rotating and the stars were moving down... or was she moving up? She blinked again and realized the truth. Nagi began to wonder about her next kill. This was the moment she often tried to avoid when preparing for a job. "You can never anticipate the kill." she spoke dryly, reminding her of things she already knew. The more someone with a fear of height thinks about crossing a bridge, the more frighten that person becomes of actually doing the task. The more she thought of plunging her dagger deep into the flesh of another human being the more she shook in fear. Which is exactly why Nagi never allowed herself to anticipate the kill. It was a weakness to her. She thought back to what Ryoko had asked. Why was she unable to take Ryoko's life on Venus? She had always waited for that day with high anticipation, it must have been just that now that she thought of it. 'It was stupid of me to worry about something so small' she convinced herself. Ken-Ohki bumped her hand again and she realized that she stopped petting him. She resumed her stroking.

By the time her pet had drifted asleep she decided to stretch a little. Maybe it would loosen her up enough to get some rest. She stood and exited the room briefly gasping at how cold it was outside her door. She quickly realized that it wasn't cold in the ship, it's just that her body was accustomed to the warm and muggy atmosphere in her room. Her nightgown was soaked through with sweat and she concluded that the sleepless tossing and turning was what made her so unbearably sweaty. She sat down at the pilot's chair and relaxed her muscles as they spread across its cool surface. Something wasn't quite right. The chair didn't fit correctly with her body and she squirmed until she could relax. Frustrated, she got out of the chair and tried to lean against the wall, only to find similar results. She glanced down the corridor to see the gleaming light filter from Ryoko's cell. She awkwardly walked towards the door and peered in. She was jealous of her deep and relaxing sleep so she superstitiously leaned against the door, it hopes to find the same comfort Ryoko was in.

'A dream...' Nagi thought, 'What a stupid thing to fight over.' She glanced back at Ryoko one more time, then ashamedly dropped them to the floor.

"You know Ryoko, I only told you about half my dream." She started to speak, quietly and apologetically. "I told you how the monster hunted me in the forest, and how he always comes closer. Well, I didn't tell you what happens when he catches me." Then her voice caught in her throat and something similar to a sob choked out. "He rapes me Ryoko. He puts his hands all over me and I can't do anything to stop him. The pain is so intense and he- he makes me touch him. I'm so frightened that I have to build up courage just to scream. I can't even look him in the face." Nagi stopped herself. Her whole body slid down the wall and she hugged her knees. "And the worst part. is that it's not just a dream." She leaned her head against the door and almost instantly fell asleep.