Chapter 26
After an hour or so, Ryoko and Trunks finally stopped kissing. The sun beat down through the window and made the room hot. In a daze, they laid down together on the couch and fell asleep, hand in hand.
"Man, is it hot out here or what?" said Gohan, looking at Yuigi for an answer.
She nodded and said flatly, "Tell me about yourself Gohan. How'd you end up here?". Explaining the whole story to her, telling about all the fights he'd fought and how he had to defeat Cell or else his world would be destroyed, Yuigi felt more and more uncomfortable. If he askes me about myself, what do I say? I can't possibly tell him that I myself tried to take over the world once, or else he'd hate me. He's been fighting all of his life to destroy what I used to be. I'll have to tell him otherwise.
Gohan stopped talking and looked down at her again. She was pretty short for eleven years.
"How about you? What was your life like? And how'd you end up at Tenchi's house?"
Swallowing hard, Yuigi tried not to meet his gaze. She had no idea what to say! Suddenly, it hit her.
"Oh, I've just come to pay respects to the shrine for the summer. It's too far away from my home in...Tokyo..., so I was offered to stay with Tenchi for the summer."
"Cool. That was nice of him! He's pretty kind, huh?"
Yuigi forced a grim smile. Yeah, he's really nice. And I tried to destroy him and his planet!
"Oh wow, just our luck! A spring! Come on Yuigi, lets go for a swim!"cried Gohan, already running towards it tossing his shirt over his head and tripping over a mossy rock, falling flat on his face and yelling a muffled, "I'm alright!"
Yuigi laughed, her spirits lifted. She ran after him, forgetting the whole thing.
Hey, my life isn't important. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.
Chapter 27
Ryoko woke up, the sun shining brightly in her eyes. She snuggled up against Trunks, who was awake for a while before her, and he was starring at her. She looked up into his eyes. He planted a soft kiss on her lips, and right after they were startled by a cough.
"Um, we need to get dressed!" said Mihoshi shyly, with the rest of the group right behind her, everyone in their towels while Trunks and Ryoko were outcasts in their bathing suits.
Ryoko sighed and imagined one of her laser beams blasting them all away so that her and Trunks could be alone again. They sat up from the couch and began walking towards the door so the girls could get their clothes on.
"Hey Ryoko, aren't you going to change?" asked Sasami, slanting her head in question. Ryoko looked out the window, and saw the sun barely peaking out from behind the hills. She was still in a daze.
"Nah, Sasami, it's okay."
"Oh but you should, Ryoko, it'll get cold outside." snarled Ayeka, figuring that the only reason that she would wear her bathing suit would be to attract Trunks' attention in the car.
"Oh.....you......fine, I will!" yelled Ryoko.
"Trunks...can you step outside for a moment. We really need to change." said Ayeka dryly.
"Oh, yeah, sorry."
He walked out the door, nudging Ryoko slightly, too quick for anybody to notice. Once he left, everyone opened their bags and began to pull out their clothes.
iHmm...what should I wear? Lets see here....pants....tee- shirt....sweatshirt....skirt? Blouse?/i Ryoko pulled out her skirt and blouse, the ones that she was going to change into if they went out to eat after the hot springs, which wasn't going to happen since they stayed at the hot springs too long.
"You don't usually wear skirts, Ryoko...."growled Ayeka, knowing why she chose that choice of clothing, or at least she thought she knew.
"Mind your own business, Ayeka, it's none of your concern what I wear. I don't even want to know why you would care!"
"What are you suggesting? You...."shrieked Ayeka.
"Now, now, ladies, come on! The rest of us are trying to change, we don't need you two bickering!" smiled Washu, wanting to play the 'peace-maker' since Tenchi wasn't here.
The space pirate and the princess growled at each other, then turned back to their clothing.
Ryoko, along with the skirt and blouse, put a spray of perfume on herself before walking out of the door behind the others, who were mostly in dress- robes.
Hmm...I'll make sure to ruin Ryoko's plans with Trunks! I know why she chose that kind of clothing. She thinks that she'll get to be with Trunks again in the van! That witch, who does she think she is? Ayeka thought to herself while glaring at a grinning Ryoko.
What is she so happy about? growled Ayeka in her thoughts.
In the boys dressing room, everyone was almost completely changed. Trunks was just about to grab a tee-shirt out of his bag, but instead decided on a muscle shirt. Gohan had just walked in the door. Yuigi and Gohan had been a little late getting back. They were swimming and had lost track of time.
Gohan began pulling clothes out of his bag, but he looked down at himself and realized that he had already changed into shorts before he and Yuigi went into the woods. Everyone laughed as Gohan rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled.
Chapter 28
Once everyone was dressed, they all climbed into the huge van. Ayeka was about to sit in between Trunks and Ryoko (thus ruining their 'plans'), but Tenchi patted to a spot in between himself and Sasami, so Ayeka couldn't refuse. She sat by him, blushing and muttering a 'thanks'.
Ryoko sighed to herself in relief that Ayeka didn't sit with them. She would've been a bother all the way home.
The van engine started, and they set out. Ryoko glanced Trunks up and down. He was in his usual sweat-pants and muscle shirt, but tonight he looked especially sexy, even if all she could see was the glint in his eyes and his silhouette. Maybe it was the way his hair fell around his shoulders and face, since it wasn't in a half pony tail. She noticed several snores coming from the seats in front of them, and she saw that everyone except the driver, Yosho, and Washu, who was riding shotgun, was asleep. Ryoko slipped her hand into his palm and leaned her head on his shoulders. He gazed at her and put his hand behind her head, turning her face towards his. His lips brushed lightly against hers, making her stomach flutter. She forgot about Tenchi once again.
Chapter 29
The last car door slammed shut as the tired group made their way into the house. Last in line was Ryoko, who was straightening her hair. It was tossed every-which way since Trunks had been running his fingers through it earlier. She ran to catch up with the rest, tossing a casual smirk in Ayeka's direction. Ryoko glanced at Trunks, who had formed a frown on his face. She shrugged, figuring that he was tired like the rest of them, and went to the head of the group.
Why didn't I think of it before...I'm so stupid! Trunks was laying on his bed, about two hours after they arrived back home. Staring up at the ceiling, he kept his frown on his face.
Gohan yawned and pulled the sheets over himself, and glanced at Trunks who was in the other bed, staring at nothing. The expression on his face was unreadable, but it wasn't a good one.
"What's wrong Trunks? Didn't get enough of Ryoko today?" giggled Gohan. Trunks tossed a pillow at him, and then went back to his pose of sadness. Gohan shrugged and fell asleep soon after.
She's just converting her feelings for Tenchi to me. Why didn't I see it before? There's no way a girl in love with a boy that badly could love someone else, too! I'm so dumb!
The old fashioned clock read 1:49am, and Trunks still couldn't go to sleep. He was furious that she used him, sad that she didn't really love him, and confused about his own feelings for her. Did he indeed love her, or was she just attractive with a good personality? He eventually fell asleep, never changing the look on his face.
Ryoko suddenly felt bad. It was 2:01am, and she couldn't go to sleep.
What just happened today? Was it for real?
She tried to think about it, but her thoughts always drifted to Tenchi for some reason. Shaking her head, she got more and more confused.
Why am I thinking about HIM? I like Trunks, right?
She eventually shook it off, falling asleep.
Chapter 30
Ryoko yawned and closed her eyes tightly as the morning sun burned into them. Shaking her head, she got out of bed and walked downstairs to eat a quick breakfast, and then go for a walk.
After eating a delicious meal made by Sasami, Ryoko went upstairs to change, then walked through her upstairs wall and flew down to the ground outside. As she walked towards the forest, she saw that Trunks was looking at her from the trail, as if he knew she was going for a walk, too. Running to catch up to him, she smiled and said 'Hi', but he didn't smile back, or even speak a word. Frowning, she asked, "What's wrong?
"Look, Ryoko, we need to talk about what's been going on between us."
Remembering what happened at the hot springs and in the car, she blushed, "What about it?"
His voice turning harsh, he yelled, "You're just transferring your feelings for Tenchi to me, aren't you? You don't care about me at all! I'm just some boy that you can come to since Tenchi won't let you. Right?"
Gasping, Ryoko's voice turned harsh also. "What? You think I'm just am having some fling with you just because I can't have Tenchi?"
"That's exactly what I think, Ryoko."
"Trunks, listen to me! I like you. But you have to understand, I've loved Tenchi for 700 years, and it's going to take a while for me to get over him."
"That's just it, Ryoko. There's a big difference between 'like' and 'love'. 'Like' is just a word for a crush. 'Love' is something that lasts all your life, Ryoko, and you'll never get overhim. So I might as well give up right now on you."
He walked over to her, pulled her to him by placing his hand on her lower back, and gave her the most passionate kiss that she had ever been given. When he pulled away, she protested, but he put a hand over her mouth gently. "No, that was for goodbye."
He flew several feet up in the air and looked down at her, with tears in his eyes, though they remained unfalling. "Oh, and Ryoko? I love you. Alot. More than Tenchi ever could. I wanted to be your everything." And with that, he flew off over the forest, leaving Ryoko to weep.
Yuigi and Gohan were deep into the forest, far ahead of Ryoko. They both woke at dawn and decided to walk together again. It seemed like they had so much to talk to each other about, but when they walked they were silent. A breeze whipped through the forest, stirring leaves and sending blossoms into flight. One came Gohan's way, and he caught it. It was the prettiest one he had ever seen. He handed it over to Yuigi, softly saying, "You have it. It's the color of your eyes."
Blushing slightly, she muttured a 'Thanks' and tucked the flower behind her ear, so the blossom was showing. She caught him looking at her and smiled. "What is it Gohan?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking..." he muttered.
"About what?"
"Oh great, you have me now. Now I have to say it!"
She giggled and nudged his side. "Say it."
"About....how...uh....prett, er......beautiful...you are." he said quickly, glancing over to her to see her reaction. She probably thinks I'm an idiot!
Yuigi hugged him, which greatly surprised Gohan. "No one has ever told me that before. Thank you." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and blushed, looking at the ground. He took her hand in his and they continued walking in silence.
Ryoko had tears streaming down her face, but she was still walking. What Trunks had said hurt her to the core, and she felt like throwing up. Suddenly, she felt something brush against her face, and she touched it. It was a light blue flower, quite pretty. Gazing at the flower, she missed the presence of someone behind her.
"The beauty of a flower comes and fades, but yours shines forever." said a soft and hypnotizing voice. As soon as Ryoko turned around, her world went dark.
After an hour or so, Ryoko and Trunks finally stopped kissing. The sun beat down through the window and made the room hot. In a daze, they laid down together on the couch and fell asleep, hand in hand.
"Man, is it hot out here or what?" said Gohan, looking at Yuigi for an answer.
She nodded and said flatly, "Tell me about yourself Gohan. How'd you end up here?". Explaining the whole story to her, telling about all the fights he'd fought and how he had to defeat Cell or else his world would be destroyed, Yuigi felt more and more uncomfortable. If he askes me about myself, what do I say? I can't possibly tell him that I myself tried to take over the world once, or else he'd hate me. He's been fighting all of his life to destroy what I used to be. I'll have to tell him otherwise.
Gohan stopped talking and looked down at her again. She was pretty short for eleven years.
"How about you? What was your life like? And how'd you end up at Tenchi's house?"
Swallowing hard, Yuigi tried not to meet his gaze. She had no idea what to say! Suddenly, it hit her.
"Oh, I've just come to pay respects to the shrine for the summer. It's too far away from my home in...Tokyo..., so I was offered to stay with Tenchi for the summer."
"Cool. That was nice of him! He's pretty kind, huh?"
Yuigi forced a grim smile. Yeah, he's really nice. And I tried to destroy him and his planet!
"Oh wow, just our luck! A spring! Come on Yuigi, lets go for a swim!"cried Gohan, already running towards it tossing his shirt over his head and tripping over a mossy rock, falling flat on his face and yelling a muffled, "I'm alright!"
Yuigi laughed, her spirits lifted. She ran after him, forgetting the whole thing.
Hey, my life isn't important. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.
Chapter 27
Ryoko woke up, the sun shining brightly in her eyes. She snuggled up against Trunks, who was awake for a while before her, and he was starring at her. She looked up into his eyes. He planted a soft kiss on her lips, and right after they were startled by a cough.
"Um, we need to get dressed!" said Mihoshi shyly, with the rest of the group right behind her, everyone in their towels while Trunks and Ryoko were outcasts in their bathing suits.
Ryoko sighed and imagined one of her laser beams blasting them all away so that her and Trunks could be alone again. They sat up from the couch and began walking towards the door so the girls could get their clothes on.
"Hey Ryoko, aren't you going to change?" asked Sasami, slanting her head in question. Ryoko looked out the window, and saw the sun barely peaking out from behind the hills. She was still in a daze.
"Nah, Sasami, it's okay."
"Oh but you should, Ryoko, it'll get cold outside." snarled Ayeka, figuring that the only reason that she would wear her bathing suit would be to attract Trunks' attention in the car.
"Oh.....you......fine, I will!" yelled Ryoko.
"Trunks...can you step outside for a moment. We really need to change." said Ayeka dryly.
"Oh, yeah, sorry."
He walked out the door, nudging Ryoko slightly, too quick for anybody to notice. Once he left, everyone opened their bags and began to pull out their clothes.
iHmm...what should I wear? Lets see here....pants....tee- shirt....sweatshirt....skirt? Blouse?/i Ryoko pulled out her skirt and blouse, the ones that she was going to change into if they went out to eat after the hot springs, which wasn't going to happen since they stayed at the hot springs too long.
"You don't usually wear skirts, Ryoko...."growled Ayeka, knowing why she chose that choice of clothing, or at least she thought she knew.
"Mind your own business, Ayeka, it's none of your concern what I wear. I don't even want to know why you would care!"
"What are you suggesting? You...."shrieked Ayeka.
"Now, now, ladies, come on! The rest of us are trying to change, we don't need you two bickering!" smiled Washu, wanting to play the 'peace-maker' since Tenchi wasn't here.
The space pirate and the princess growled at each other, then turned back to their clothing.
Ryoko, along with the skirt and blouse, put a spray of perfume on herself before walking out of the door behind the others, who were mostly in dress- robes.
Hmm...I'll make sure to ruin Ryoko's plans with Trunks! I know why she chose that kind of clothing. She thinks that she'll get to be with Trunks again in the van! That witch, who does she think she is? Ayeka thought to herself while glaring at a grinning Ryoko.
What is she so happy about? growled Ayeka in her thoughts.
In the boys dressing room, everyone was almost completely changed. Trunks was just about to grab a tee-shirt out of his bag, but instead decided on a muscle shirt. Gohan had just walked in the door. Yuigi and Gohan had been a little late getting back. They were swimming and had lost track of time.
Gohan began pulling clothes out of his bag, but he looked down at himself and realized that he had already changed into shorts before he and Yuigi went into the woods. Everyone laughed as Gohan rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled.
Chapter 28
Once everyone was dressed, they all climbed into the huge van. Ayeka was about to sit in between Trunks and Ryoko (thus ruining their 'plans'), but Tenchi patted to a spot in between himself and Sasami, so Ayeka couldn't refuse. She sat by him, blushing and muttering a 'thanks'.
Ryoko sighed to herself in relief that Ayeka didn't sit with them. She would've been a bother all the way home.
The van engine started, and they set out. Ryoko glanced Trunks up and down. He was in his usual sweat-pants and muscle shirt, but tonight he looked especially sexy, even if all she could see was the glint in his eyes and his silhouette. Maybe it was the way his hair fell around his shoulders and face, since it wasn't in a half pony tail. She noticed several snores coming from the seats in front of them, and she saw that everyone except the driver, Yosho, and Washu, who was riding shotgun, was asleep. Ryoko slipped her hand into his palm and leaned her head on his shoulders. He gazed at her and put his hand behind her head, turning her face towards his. His lips brushed lightly against hers, making her stomach flutter. She forgot about Tenchi once again.
Chapter 29
The last car door slammed shut as the tired group made their way into the house. Last in line was Ryoko, who was straightening her hair. It was tossed every-which way since Trunks had been running his fingers through it earlier. She ran to catch up with the rest, tossing a casual smirk in Ayeka's direction. Ryoko glanced at Trunks, who had formed a frown on his face. She shrugged, figuring that he was tired like the rest of them, and went to the head of the group.
Why didn't I think of it before...I'm so stupid! Trunks was laying on his bed, about two hours after they arrived back home. Staring up at the ceiling, he kept his frown on his face.
Gohan yawned and pulled the sheets over himself, and glanced at Trunks who was in the other bed, staring at nothing. The expression on his face was unreadable, but it wasn't a good one.
"What's wrong Trunks? Didn't get enough of Ryoko today?" giggled Gohan. Trunks tossed a pillow at him, and then went back to his pose of sadness. Gohan shrugged and fell asleep soon after.
She's just converting her feelings for Tenchi to me. Why didn't I see it before? There's no way a girl in love with a boy that badly could love someone else, too! I'm so dumb!
The old fashioned clock read 1:49am, and Trunks still couldn't go to sleep. He was furious that she used him, sad that she didn't really love him, and confused about his own feelings for her. Did he indeed love her, or was she just attractive with a good personality? He eventually fell asleep, never changing the look on his face.
Ryoko suddenly felt bad. It was 2:01am, and she couldn't go to sleep.
What just happened today? Was it for real?
She tried to think about it, but her thoughts always drifted to Tenchi for some reason. Shaking her head, she got more and more confused.
Why am I thinking about HIM? I like Trunks, right?
She eventually shook it off, falling asleep.
Chapter 30
Ryoko yawned and closed her eyes tightly as the morning sun burned into them. Shaking her head, she got out of bed and walked downstairs to eat a quick breakfast, and then go for a walk.
After eating a delicious meal made by Sasami, Ryoko went upstairs to change, then walked through her upstairs wall and flew down to the ground outside. As she walked towards the forest, she saw that Trunks was looking at her from the trail, as if he knew she was going for a walk, too. Running to catch up to him, she smiled and said 'Hi', but he didn't smile back, or even speak a word. Frowning, she asked, "What's wrong?
"Look, Ryoko, we need to talk about what's been going on between us."
Remembering what happened at the hot springs and in the car, she blushed, "What about it?"
His voice turning harsh, he yelled, "You're just transferring your feelings for Tenchi to me, aren't you? You don't care about me at all! I'm just some boy that you can come to since Tenchi won't let you. Right?"
Gasping, Ryoko's voice turned harsh also. "What? You think I'm just am having some fling with you just because I can't have Tenchi?"
"That's exactly what I think, Ryoko."
"Trunks, listen to me! I like you. But you have to understand, I've loved Tenchi for 700 years, and it's going to take a while for me to get over him."
"That's just it, Ryoko. There's a big difference between 'like' and 'love'. 'Like' is just a word for a crush. 'Love' is something that lasts all your life, Ryoko, and you'll never get overhim. So I might as well give up right now on you."
He walked over to her, pulled her to him by placing his hand on her lower back, and gave her the most passionate kiss that she had ever been given. When he pulled away, she protested, but he put a hand over her mouth gently. "No, that was for goodbye."
He flew several feet up in the air and looked down at her, with tears in his eyes, though they remained unfalling. "Oh, and Ryoko? I love you. Alot. More than Tenchi ever could. I wanted to be your everything." And with that, he flew off over the forest, leaving Ryoko to weep.
Yuigi and Gohan were deep into the forest, far ahead of Ryoko. They both woke at dawn and decided to walk together again. It seemed like they had so much to talk to each other about, but when they walked they were silent. A breeze whipped through the forest, stirring leaves and sending blossoms into flight. One came Gohan's way, and he caught it. It was the prettiest one he had ever seen. He handed it over to Yuigi, softly saying, "You have it. It's the color of your eyes."
Blushing slightly, she muttured a 'Thanks' and tucked the flower behind her ear, so the blossom was showing. She caught him looking at her and smiled. "What is it Gohan?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking..." he muttered.
"About what?"
"Oh great, you have me now. Now I have to say it!"
She giggled and nudged his side. "Say it."
"About....how...uh....prett, er......beautiful...you are." he said quickly, glancing over to her to see her reaction. She probably thinks I'm an idiot!
Yuigi hugged him, which greatly surprised Gohan. "No one has ever told me that before. Thank you." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and blushed, looking at the ground. He took her hand in his and they continued walking in silence.
Ryoko had tears streaming down her face, but she was still walking. What Trunks had said hurt her to the core, and she felt like throwing up. Suddenly, she felt something brush against her face, and she touched it. It was a light blue flower, quite pretty. Gazing at the flower, she missed the presence of someone behind her.
"The beauty of a flower comes and fades, but yours shines forever." said a soft and hypnotizing voice. As soon as Ryoko turned around, her world went dark.