Disclaimer: Tenchi-Muyo is owned by Pioneer and AIC
Author's Note: Warning: This chapter is rated R. Dark scenes ahead so beware. Also attempted rape. Ryoko does not actually get raped though! Ok! So if that freaks you out don't read this.
"…"Talking
'…' Thinking/Telepathy, other
Chapter 3:
After Ryoko finished cleaning herself up she went downstairs for dinner, but everyone had already finished eating and gone to bed. 'Figures.' Ryoko thought as she opened the fridge door looking around for something to eat. 'It's not like I can taste anything anyways.' Ryoko grabbed some leftover Ramen noodles and a bottle of Sake and headed for the couch. She finished her noodles and sake and went up to her rafter to sleep.
The Dream…Aboard Kagato's Ship, the Souja…
Kagato was standing in front of the ship's central computer when Ryoko arrived. The central computer was in a huge room that had of a series of walkways surrounded by water.
"Well, my Ryoko, that took you long enough. Did you at least manage to get the Talisman?" Kagato asked turning around to greet Ryoko.
"Yes, Master." Ryoko said as she held up the item that she had been clutching in her hand. It was a green stone with a tree marking engraved onto it.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Give it here!"
"Sorry." Ryoko replied handing Kagato the Talisman.
"Ah ha ha! This is it! This is really it! With this Talisman you should be able to locate Tsunami easily once you're in Jurai!" Kagato turned to face Ryoko. "Don't you have anything to say to that?"
"That's nice, Master."
"Nice! NICE! You stupid, piece of trash! You don't realize what this means! It means I am this much closer to discovering the secret of Goddess immortality! Once I am immortal no one will be able to stand in my way. I'll be able to take over countless galaxies…with your help."
"I'm happy for you."
"Who told you to talk you insignificant fool?"
Kagato backhanded Ryoko across the face, but she stood there keeping her ground.
"You're presence makes me sick. Even after I designed you to have the best assets," Kagato motioned to her large breasts, "you still disgust me too much to actually use you in a way other than my personal weapon."
Ryoko gave Kagato a hateful glare, as a few sparks emitted from her hands. Kagato watched this with amusement.
"Don't tempt me Ryoko. I can make you be anything, do anything, I want. For now you are just my weapon but if you push your luck you can become my personal whore too!"
Ryoko stood there letting the sparks in her hand dissipate.
"That's better. Even a petty being such as yourself fears that. Of course, fear is an emotion is it not? And what did I say about you having Emotions?"
"I have no Emotions."
"I see we have made progress over the years. How long has it been Ryoko?"
"Too long."
"Don't get smart with me you good-for-nothing wench! I think it's time you got your reward for doing such a great job today," Kagato said sarcastically glaring at Ryoko, "I think you've earned yourself another Training session!"
Ryoko began to back up against the wall. This was the last thing she wanted. She was tired and thirsty after her long battle on the planet and just wanted to rest.
"Could I…have some water before we begin?" Ryoko asked meekly.
"Sure, you can have some water, my Ryoko." Kagato said smiling.
"Really?" Ryoko asked in disbelief.
"Really." Kagato raised his hand to face Ryoko and released an energy blast so strong it rocked the ship. Ryoko went flying off the walkway into the water.
"AH HA HA HA! You really are amusing! Oh, did that hurt? Poor baby. Here let me help you up." Kagato reached for Ryoko and grabbed her roughly around the neck. Ryoko began to gag as Kagato tightened his grip lifting her up out of the water.
"There now." Kagato released his grip on Ryoko setting her down, and she began to cough violently. Ryoko couldn't take it anymore. She knew what happened to her when she fought back in situations like these, but for once she had hope. Hope that she wasn't the monster Kagato claimed she was. Hope that this might not be her life forever. Ryoko ignited her energy sword and charged at Kagato. Kagato just stood there and as Ryoko brought her sword down Kagato ignited his own meeting hers full force.
"Really, Ryoko did you think you had a chance against me? You really aren't worth the trouble."
Kagato ignited a second blade catching Ryoko off guard and stabbed her in the stomach. She was in extreme pain but still did not bleed.
"WHY DON'T YOU EVER BLEED DAMMIT!" Kagato cried out angrily.
Ryoko composing herself charged at Kagato with another attack. This time Kagato wasn't so lucky. Ryoko teleported behind Kagato just as she was going to charge him head on and managed to cut his arm off while his back was turned. Ryoko had been practicing this tactic in private.
Kagato was outraged. He quickly re-grew his arm and turned to face the now exhausted Ryoko.
"You've gone too far in your insubordination, my Ryoko! It's time you were taught a lesson!"
Ryoko knew what was coming-hours upon hours of him beating her up until she fell unconscious. 'I'm not going to cower before him no matter how much it hurts. I will stand strong! I will stay fighting until I can't will my body to move anymore!'
With this new determination Ryoko charged Kagato once more, Kagato doing the same. Their swords met with such a force they had a hard time staying upright. Sparks went in the air as the two swords clashed. Occasionally Kagato managed to wound Ryoko. But she didn't seem to notice or to care. She had had enough. Kagato could tell that Ryoko was weakening and moved in to end this pitiful excuse for a fight. Kagato was about to use his second sword to slice at Ryoko's side when he saw that something was blocking his way. Kagato looked back at Ryoko. She was still blocking his first sword with her one sword held by her two hands, then how was she…Kagato looked back and saw…
'No it can't be?! Ryoko doesn't have the ability to form the light hawk wings!'
But there it was a single light hawk wing protecting Ryoko from Kagato's second sword.
All of a sudden energy surrounded Ryoko and Kagato found himself flying across the room to where he hit a wall. All the hate that Ryoko felt for Kagato was released in that blast.
Ryoko fell to the ground panting for breath unable to fight any longer. The use of the light hawk wing had taken all her energy to sustain it.
Kagato saw this and got up brushing himself off and putting a smile on his face.
"It seems the tables have turned once again, my Ryoko."
Kagato walked back over to Ryoko and was about to backhand her when a voice rang out behind him.
"It's not nice to hit a lady."
Kagato turned around to see none other than the famous Shadow Bounty Hunter.
"You? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be dead! Why didn't my Ryoko finish you off?"
"I'm here for Ryoko. She isn't yours anymore!" said the bounty hunter.
"I beg to differ. Oh, my Ryoko, it looks like we have company. You really should learn to attend to our guests."
Suddenly Ryoko got to her feet as if in a trance, her eyes glowing a deep red. Ryoko ignited her energy sword and began to stagger forward towards the bounty hunter, sword raised.
"I think I'll let Ryoko finish you off!" Said Kagato.
Ryoko flew towards the bounty hunter and brought her sword down, which was blocked by the bounty hunter.
"Ryoko don't do this! Fight it Ryoko! I know you can! Fight it! You can have hope remember?!" The bounty hunter pleaded searching her eyes for any indication that she might regain control.
Suddenly Ryoko screamed as she grasped her head in pain and fell to the floor, energy sword dissipating.
The bounty hunter ran over to Ryoko.
"Ryoko? Ryoko are you all right? Is it really you?"
"It's you…you came…you really came…"
"Of course I did. Now we have to get you out of here."
"No I can't. I'm too weak to fight him like this. There is only one way-you have to use your sword and take my gems away. He is controlling me using them. Your Jurain sword should be able to do that."
"How did you know?"
"Please, there's no time, just do it now."
"Ok."
The bounty hunter pointed his Jurain sword at Ryoko and stabbed her through the chest with it. Ryoko's body began to convulse violently as the gems were taken away from her and stored in the hilt of the bounty hunter's sword.
She collapsed in his arms.
"Ryoko…you are so strong…"
Kagato who had been watching realized in horror what had happened.
'What? The bounty hunter is a Jurain! I should have known! This ruins everything! I can't let him get away with Ryoko.'
The bounty hunter picked up Ryoko and began to run through the main hallway carrying her. He had to find a place where his teleportation abilities weren't blocked so he could teleport Ryoko and himself aboard his ship Kado, to get away.
Kagato would never admit it but he was still weak from Ryoko's previous attack, so couldn't go after them right away. Instead he went to the central computer and began activating all the non-teleportation devices so that the bounty hunter and Ryoko would have no way of escape.
The bounty hunter came to the room where he had teleported to from his ship. He tried to teleport, along with Ryoko, but nothing happened.
"Damn, Kagato must have activated the non-teleportation devices in this section of the ship. We'll just have to find another way out somehow."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA." An evil laughter could be heard behind them.
"It looks like you are trapped. You might as well surrender yourself and hand Ryoko back over to me."
"I'll never surrender to you, and Ryoko will never be yours again."
"That may be true considering Ryoko is dying…"
"What?" The bounty hunter said looking down at Ryoko and noticing for the first time the appearance of blood on Ryoko's clothes coming from the series of wounds that she had gotten earlier.
'Ryoko doesn't bleed'
"What's going on? Why is she bleeding?"
"You took her main power source away-her gems. She was already weak when you took her gems from her so she can't sustain her life force without them in her current condition. If you don't give Ryoko her gems back now she will die." Kagato said smiling.
"Why should I believe you?!"
"Just look at her and see for yourself!"
Blood was gushing from Ryoko's wounds as her breath became more agitated and less frequent.
"Oh God, Ryoko."
"I'll make you a deal. You turn Ryoko and her gems back over to me and I'll let you go. It's your decision-try and fight me while Ryoko dies or save her life and save yours as well."
"Never Kagato! I'll never-"
"Please…save…yourself. There's nothing you can do now. You tried…that's all that matters. He'll kill you if you don't…"Ryoko tried to speak but her voice came in small gasps as she passed out.
"Ryoko! RYOKO!"
The bounty hunter turned towards Kagato.
"So be it."
The bounty hunter returned the gems to Ryoko and watched as her breathing improved and steadied. Also her wounds began to heal and she stopped bleeding. She was going to be ok.
Kagato allowed the bounty hunter to teleport back to his ship.
"Ryoko. Ryoko wake up!"
"Mmm"
"Come on Ryoko, there is something I would like you to see."
"Ryoko opened her eyes to see that she was still aboard the Souja and looking at a screen image of the bounty hunter's ship, Kado.
"Watch closely now Ryoko. This is what happens to people who defy me, people who try to take away what belongs to me!"
Kagato pushed a button on his computer and a laser blast shot towards Kado. The ship and its master were destroyed.
Ryoko's eyes went wide.
"No!!!" Ryoko screamed. "How could you!!!" Ryoko began to weakly beat her fists on Kagato's shoulder.
"This will teach you an important lesson Ryoko. Never care for anyone because I will destroy them. And secondly you belong to me. No one will ever be able to take you away from me Ryoko! Ever!"
Tears streamed down Ryoko's face as she looked at the image on the screen. All that was left of Kado and the bounty hunter were particles floating in the endless void that was space. The closest thing that she had ever had to a friend was gone, along with the last of her hopes, along with the last of her dreams, along with her first love…
Kagato grabbed Ryoko by the hair and began to drag her down the hall. Ryoko was too weak to fight.
"If you want love so badly Ryoko, I can give you that!" Kagato said giving Ryoko an evil grin.
Ryoko shivered in realization as she thought of what he was implying. He wouldn't would he? He sure had threatened her often enough. Maybe this time she had gone to far. Was it so wrong for her to want-love. Surly, not the type of love Kagato was about to give her, but something more.
Ryoko didn't have her own room but slept in a small cell. The cell had four walls and a floor-that was it. Ryoko was used to sleeping on the floor. The one time she had asked Kagato for a bed she was severely punished for her "insubordination" and "forgetting her place". Ryoko noticed that they weren't headed to her room…
"Where are we going?" Ryoko asked weakly.
"I have a room for you if you want one, my Ryoko. What do you say?"
Ryoko knew there was nothing nice about this offer.
Ryoko decided not to respond giving Kagato a searching look. What was he up to? She thought that if he were going to take advantage of her he'd just do so in her cell and leave her there like discarded waste. But having him torture her in a real room had never crossed her imagination. Kagato had threatened her with this countless of times and she had always imagined it happening to her the same way, on a cold hard floor. She didn't really see the point of him making her suffer in a room. That seemed strange to her. Of course Ryoko didn't really know much about that in the first place.
Kagato stopped when he reached the door to "Ryoko's room" and threw her inside. The room was simple enough with a bed, dresser, night table, lamp etc. The room was filled with the usual things that a room was supposed to have.
"Do you know what this is Ryoko?" Kagato asked starring at her limp form on the floor.
"A bedroom." Ryoko replied lifting her head to look around.
"Yes, but do you know whose bedroom this is?"
"No."
"This, my dear, was supposed to be your bedroom. Take a look around and see what you can find."
Ryoko took a look around the room…nothing unusual popped out at her-there was the bed and the night table with the pictures, pictures? Ryoko walked up the night table and looked at the pictures, they were all labeled. Some of the labels said things like "Friend" or "Ryo-Oki"…Ryoko scoffed at the picture of Kagato labeled "Friend". Ha! What sort of friend would beat you up and insult you 24/7? She moved on and came to a picture labeled "Mom"… 'Mom?' Ryoko questioned herself. She had never known her mother. Kagato had only said that he was her creator nothing more. But Ryoko supposed that since Kagato was her "creator" wouldn't she have to have another "creator" that was female too? Ryoko had killed dozens of families and had a vague since of what a family unit was supposed to be like. A traditional family had a mother, a father and a child. Did this lady with the green eyes and pink hair help create her along side with Kagato?
"Mom?" Ryoko questioned Kagato pointing to the picture.
"Yes, Ryoko she is your mother. A mother you will never know. Thanks to me." Kagato looked thoroughly pleased with himself. Surely this had hurt Ryoko.
"What do you mean? Why would I care?" Ryoko responded seeing Kagato's expression.
'She doesn't remember the day I took her away from Washu?' Kagato thought to himself thinking over this new tidbit of information.
Well if she didn't care, he would make her care. He had to break Ryoko's spirit. After today Kagato saw Ryoko as a threat for the very first time. Had she really been able to form a light hawk wing and use it against him?
"I have lied to you about something Ryoko. I have always said that I created you and so you belong to me alone. Well, that's not entirely true. The woman you see in that picture was a scientist named, Washu. She had in her possession 3 unusual gems. She knew little about them, only that they seemed to be a sort of power source. Being the inquisitive scientist that she was, Washu decided to find out if their power could be harnessed somehow. That's how she came up with the idea of making you. You were designed to harness and bring out the full potential of those gems' power. Instead of just making you with Artificial Intelligence she decided that if she combined the life form Mass and one of her own egg cells that a life form could be created that would have it's own intelligence.
It was almost as if you were "conceived" like everyone else except for the fact that you have no father. She intended for you to be more of a daughter to her rather than a creation or experiment. I saw a grand opportunity here. If I got rid of Washu and stole you I would have the gems and a tool that had the power to use them. The day Washu brought you to life was the day I took you away from her. You were on the reanimation table when I came in and blasted Washu and put you back to sleep. I decided I needed to make a few changes to your design before I reanimated you and brought you back to life. I figured out how to control your mind and then figured out how to make you more pleasing to the eye. Once I had implemented these changes the rest is history. The next time you woke up, you awoke my creation."
"My original intended purpose was to be a "daughter" and not a weapon?" Ryoko asked looking distressed and confused. If it wasn't for Kagato she may have had the chance to live a normal life? A life like the ones she destroyed. It was a lot for Ryoko to swallow and somehow the story Kagato was feeding her seemed a little far-fetched. How could someone have considered Ryoko a daughter? And why if she was to be someone's daughter had been designed to wake up as a young woman and not as a child. Why was it that her "mother" didn't want her to have a childhood? From Ryoko's perspective her "mother" didn't seem to be any better than Kagato. Both seemed to enjoy taking things away from her.
"Yes." Kagato replied smiling evilly. 'If this didn't break her spirit I wonder what will?'
"And I'm supposed to care that this woman, my "mom" is dead?" Ryoko asked looking at Kagato with a look as if to say-You have failed.
"I don't think you understand, my Ryoko. This woman, your mother, cared for you. You would have lived a normal life. No killing, no beatings, and most of all you would have been loved. Not the same love you felt for that bounty hunter but a love that goes beyond the love that happens between a man and a woman-that love can be fickle and untrue. But the love of a mother is constant and always there for you in times of need."
"But you told me that I was a creation. That I could never know love or be loved. You told me I have no human emotions." Ryoko was having a hard time accepting that the reality Kagato had made her believe for so long was not true. She didn't know which reality was worse. That she was not an Android or that fact that she was a human being. At least when Ryoko had believed she was a machine she began to accept that she shouldn't feel or have emotions. But know that she was told that she was actually a human being and could feel, she was having mixed emotions about everything. How deep had her feeling run for the bounty hunter? Kagato had accused her of loving him. Would he know that even if she didn't. Ryoko had never known love before…and the bounty hunter had been so kind. Was that love? Was this feeling she had in her heart whenever she thought of his emerald green eyes, love?
"It seems I must remind you of that day. I'll make you understand just how sad the truth of your existence really is!" Kagato said raising his hand and pointing it at Ryoko's head. 'If she doesn't remember that day she won't care that she lost the chance to have a mother. I'll have to reawaken those memories for her.' A beam of light shot out of Kagato's hand and sped towards Ryoko's head where it connected. A link of light from Kagato's hand and Ryoko's head was formed. The light shimmered an icy blue. Ryoko was raised off the floor as her body convulsed. Kagato would have to force her memories to return to her. Memories that were long forgotten for a reason.
Ryoko screamed…
Flashback…"Wake up my little Ryoko." A kind, warm, voice said. The voice sounded familiar and according to Ryoko's programming that voice registered as belonging to her "mother".
"Mother?" Ryoko responded as she tried to sit up from the reanimation table.
"That's right Ryoko. I'm your mother and I'll always be there for you because I love you. That's something that the data I put in your head can't tell you, my little Ryoko." Washu said beaming with pride at her latest creation, no-her daughter.
"What is love?" Ryoko said slowly as she gathered her strength, from being awoken for the first time.
"Love is a strong affection or liking for someone or something; A passionate affection of one person for another. But that's only the definition. Love goes beyond that. My saying I love you means that I care about you and your well being. It means I would never want anything to happen to you because that would make me sad. It means that you are not alone in the world." Washu said waiting for Ryoko's response.
"Then…I love you too." Ryoko responded smiling at Washu, her mother, her creator.
Just then the back door opened and someone entered.
"Well, hello there Washu, it looks like Ryoko's reanimation had no complications…until now!" Kagato said taking Washu by surprise and blasting her into unconsciousness. He then turned to the central computer and to Ryoko, who was starring wide-eyed at what had just happened. This man just hurt her mother! Ryoko turned to face Kagato with hate-filled eyes and she was about to do something when…
"Ah ah ah." Kagato said waving his index finger back and forth. "I think it's time for Ryoko to go nappy nappy again!" Kagato mocked Ryoko as he pushed a button and she found herself falling back into a state of sleep against her will. Ryoko remembered willing herself to remember that man and what he did to her mother so the next time she saw him she could avenge her mother. The last thing Ryoko remembered was Kagato's laughing. "Hahhahahahahaha…. I've done it!"
End of Flash Back.
Ryoko was in tears. She had a mother. A mother, who had cared about her. She wasn't just a creation but someone's daughter. And most of all she had forgotten about getting revenge. Revenge from the man who had killed her mother. Ryoko felt guilty for not remembering. She had let her mother's death go unavenged. This was why she had willed these memories to go away and accept the reality that Kagato made her believe. That reality was less painful than the truth. The truth that she wasn't really a monster, that it was all Kagato's fault. He had ruined her life; he had ruined her. He had ruined everything. Ryoko glared at Kagato with her eyes full of hatred.
"You…you took my chance to be loved away from me." Ryoko said her voice cracking. She turned to Kagato and activated her energy sword but was so weak that Kagato just hit her blade to the side.
Kagato turned to Ryoko smiling.
"Oh, I'll give you a chance to be loved! And this will teach you a lesson for defying me!" Kagato said as he grabbed Ryoko by the neck and threw her on the bed. He then climbed on top of her and began feeling her up against her will. Ryoko had never felt so dirty and used before. And there was nothing she could do. She was at his mercy. He pressed his body against Ryoko, hard. He then grabbed and bruised her breasts while ripping her battle suit off down the front. He continued to rip her battle suit all the way off and Ryoko lay naked before him. Ryoko was sobbing at this point. She knew what was coming, somehow she knew. Kagato began to unbutton his shit and threw it on the floor. Then he started to undo his pants watching Ryoko's reaction very intently.
Ryoko shuddered as she watched him.
"Please…no…" Ryoko mumbled knowing it was no use.
"What was that Ryoko? I didn't hear you?" Kagato mocked.
"I said 'No'" Ryoko responded. She was beyond hope.
"No? You don't want my love Ryoko?"
"No…"
"Who's love do you want? That bounty hunters?" Kagato asked waiting for her reply, as he stopped undoing his pants.
Ryoko knew her answer would determine whether or not she got out of this horrible situation but at first she just couldn't lie to Kagato. Love was the only emotion besides hate, fear, or disgust she had felt in over 1000 years.
"Yes," sobbed Ryoko. "But you took that away from me too."
"Did I now? So you still want his love even though he's dead?"
"Yes…"
"THEN THAT MEANS YOU STILL THINK THAT A THING LIKE YOU CAN BE LOVED! UNLESS YOU SAY YOU DIDN'T LOVE THE BOUNTY HUNTER AND THAT YOU DON'T WANT HIS LOVE ANYMORE, I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT LOVE IS!" Kagato pulled Ryoko closer to him and began to thrust at her with his pants still on to give her an idea of what would happen to her if she didn't answer him the way he wanted. Ryoko could feel Kagato's manhood hard against her…
"IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT! DO YOU WANT LOVE? DO YOU WANT TO BE LOVED?!"
Screamed Kagato.
"NOOOO!! I…I DON'T WANT LOVE ANYMORE. PLEASE KAGATO I'LL NEVER LOVE AGAIN. I DIDN'T LOVE THE BOUNTY HUNTER AND I NO LONGER WANT HIS LOVE. PLEASE KAGAGTO STOP! I DON'T' WANT TO BE LOVED ANYMORE! BY ANYONE! LEAST OF ALL YOU!" Ryoko pleaded.
Kagato stopped thrusting at Ryoko.
"You will never know love Ryoko. No one will ever be able to love a thing like you, not after all you have done. You may have once had a chance at love Ryoko but I took that away from you and I want you to understand that. I want you to understand that I have power over you and that you are under my control and that you will follow my orders without resistance. You may not be an android but that doesn't change what you have become. I have stolen your humanity away from you. Like I said before, you are whatever I want you to be and for now I want you to be an emotionless weapon, understood?"
"Yes, master, it is understood." Ryoko choked out looking at Kagato, tears in her eyes.
Kagato got off Ryoko and walked to the door.
"Did you really think I would have made love to a no account whore like you?! HaHaHaHa. Do you still want a room now?" Kagato asked looking at the shivering heap that was Ryoko. He enjoyed making her afraid of him. He enjoyed instilling conflicting emotions inside of her. He loved making her confused. Now Ryoko didn't really know what she was thanks to Kagato. She had found out that she really wasn't just a creation but someone's daughter. What all this meant, Ryoko still did not know. She had spent hundreds of years trying to be the emotionless machine Kagato claimed she was but now she didn't know what to feel or what to do.
"No master"
"Do you think you deserve a room? That you are good enough to have one?" Kagato asked menace in his voice.
"No master I am not worthy to have my own room."
"That's right. I think this has taught you a valuable lesson Ryoko-to never defy me again."
"Yes master"
"And to never love again…"
"I will never love again…master…" sobbed Ryoko.
Kagato left Ryoko turning off the light and slamming the door. Kagato wanted Ryoko to be afraid of the word "bedroom"-this should do it. Ryoko crawled off the bed and fell asleep on the floor crying herself to sleep.
End of Dream…Ryoko fell of her rafter and onto the dining table below with a scream. The table broke from the impact and Ryoko was sent sprawling onto the floor.
'I hope all that noise didn't wake anyone up', sighed Ryoko. Ryoko stood up and dusted herself off. Ryoko felt awful. Those were many painful memories to have to relive in one night. Ryoko was tired and scared to go asleep again because of what she might remember. Then Ryoko heard a noise behind her. She was a little jumpy so turned around almost immediately and was about to ignite her energy sword when she saw who it was.
"Ryoko?"
It was Tenchi.
"Tenchi? I…uh, I'm so sorry about the table, I'll fix it or something…" Ryoko said as she put her hand down. She was planning to blast her "attacker" before they had a chance to attack her. She stood there waiting for Tenchi to respond, while she looked at the ground. She was sure Tenchi would be mad at her for breaking the table, just like how he had been when she ripped his mother's kimono. Ryoko didn't know if she could take Tenchi yelling at her right now…
"What?" Tenchi asked looking at the remains of the dining table. "Oh, that's not important. I thought I heard you scream. What happened?"
Ryoko sighed with relief. He wasn't going to yell at her for smashing the dinning room table after all.
"Well, I was sleeping and had a nightmare. And well…you see…I kind of…fell out of…bed" Ryoko stammered feeling very embarrassed.
"Huh? Oh, you mean the rafter." Tenchi said giving a disapproving look at the rafter. 'Why doesn't Ryoko have her own room?' Tenchi asked himself. A voice in his head responded, 'Because someone never offered her a room of her own.' Tenchi all of a sudden felt very guilty. Ryoko was staying in his house, so that would make her a guest too wouldn't it? It had never really occurred to him to ask Ryoko about whether or not she would like a room. She seemed to just take whatever she wanted, so if she wanted a room wouldn't she have just taken one? Maybe there was a reason why she didn't want a room. He decided it was about time he asked Ryoko if she'd like a room. He was sure Washu could add another one to the house before she could say, "I'm the Greatest Scientific Genius in the Universe!" "You should really be more careful, Ryoko, you could have been hurt. How would you like to have your own room?"
"NO! I mean…me? Have my own room. I don't know Tenchi. I'll think about it." Ryoko was trying to compose her self but her nervousness was showing through.
"What's there to think about? Come on, it can't be comfortable sleeping on the rafters."
"It's just that…I'm used to it."
"That doesn't mean you can't at least try out a room."
"You just don't understand Tenchi."
"I don't get it. What's there to understand?"
"I just don't want a room ok?!" Ryoko said in a load voice.
"Well ok Ryoko but I still don't understand why you wouldn't want your own room…"
"It's because…" Ryoko looked at the floor. She certainly couldn't tell Tenchi the real reason why she didn't want a room. Maybe if she said something close to the truth that would do.
"Yes Ryoko?" Tenchi pursued giving Ryoko an encouraging look to continue. What reason could Ryoko possibly have for not wanting a room?
"It's just that…Kagato…he never gave me room…I had a cell…. and slept on the floor. I guess that's what I'm used to and I don't see the point in having it any other way now. I'm perfectly happy sleeping on the rafters."
Tenchi shuddered at that name. He bawled his fists in anger-Kagato. He was causing her this pain.
"But Ryoko Kagato isn't alive anymore. You don't have to live under the same conditions he made you live under."
"Oh but he is alive Tenchi…"
"What?! Where?" Tenchi said looking around the room as if he expected Kagato to jump out at him any minute.
"No, Tenchi I mean he's alive, here." Ryoko said pointing to her head. And in a smaller voice she said, "I have nightmares about him…"
"Ryoko…I…. don't know what to say. Sometimes talking about your nightmares makes them go away."
"Not these kinds of nightmares, Tenchi."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, ever since I merged with Zero in order to have a complete memory I have to relive all my past memories while I sleep. And well that means…I have to…relive all my memories with Kagato…it was most of my life…I bet Zero is regretting merging with me now…"Ryoko said shaking her head. She tried to look unaffected by what she had said but Tenchi saw right through her. He knew she wouldn't want his pity; she had too much pride for that. But maybe she'd consider friendship.
"Ryoko," Tenchi put his arm around Ryoko to comfort her, "this must be hard on you. If you ever need someone to talk to I want you to know that I'm here for you."
Ryoko smiled.
'Oh Tenchi, I wish I could tell you…about the girl and the bounty hunter but I think you'll just think less of me if I do. I caused both of their lives to cease in existence. Not to mention the lives of countless others…' Ryoko thought looking into Tenchi's eyes.
Ryoko wouldn't let herself cry in front of Tenchi. If anything he admired her for her strength…someone had once told her she was strong…she couldn't let him think of her as weak. Ryoko took a deep breath.
"Tenchi, thank you for your kind words. I think I'll be ok. Maybe someday I'll tell you…tell you what happened to me in the past…"
"When you're ready Ryoko. And Ryoko I had a talk with Ayeka and never got to tell you but we decided it was stupid to think you caused the Demon Attack without further evidence against you…"
"Really? That means a lot to me Tenchi. I only wish you would trust me more…"
"I do trust you Ryoko it's just…'if I give you your gems back why would you stay here with a mere earthling that can't even decide who it is he loves, as long as I have your gems, I have a hold on you, so you can't leave me, ever, or at least not until I find the courage to make my choice' "trust has to be earned." Finished Tenchi.
"Then I'm going to do everything I can to earn your trust, my Tenchi!" Ryoko said smiling at Tenchi, getting lost in his chocolate-brown eyes.
"Just don't go overboard ok Ryoko?" said Tenchi smiling with a hand behind his head.
"Sure thing Tenchi"
There was a moment of silence and Tenchi was about to head back up to his room when Ryoko stopped him.
"Tenchi…"
"Yes Ryoko"
"What…am I?" Ryoko asked in a small voice.
Tenchi thought this was a weird question for Ryoko to be asking but saw the look of seriousness in Ryoko's eyes and decided to think about this question before answering. What was Ryoko? First of all why would she be asking this question, Tenchi wondered. Ryoko was what she was…Ryoko. But somehow Tenchi knew that wasn't the answer Ryoko wanted to hear. Well she knew what Ayeka would say she was-a demon. And then it hit Tenchi. If everyone always called Ryoko things like "demon" and "space pirate" had she come to believe that those things were true. Had she really come to believe that she really was a "demon"?
"Ryoko…you're a…strong woman. The strongest and most powerful woman I have ever met." Tenchi responded.
Ryoko looked happily into Tenchi's eyes. He saw her as a woman. Now if only Ryoko could stop looking at herself as a creation, the love of her life had already expressed that he saw her as something other than a creation.
"Thank you Tenchi you don't know how much it means to me to hear you say that."
"Ryoko…it was nothing" Tenchi said as he went up to bed, a smile also on his face. Maybe he was beginning to understand women after all.
The next morning…
Everyone got up bright and early for breakfast. And everyone was in a surprisingly good mood…
"Ryoko pass the tempura." Said Ayeka.
"Sure thing Princess."
Ryoko had decided that if she was going to gain Tenchi's trust she could start by showing him that she could control herself…
Tenchi looked on in shock. 'The two of them actually getting along. The world is going to come to an end' thought Tenchi smiling to himself.
But little did they know that Ayeka's mind was busy planning, an idea had come to her last night, one that she couldn't get out of her head.
Later that day…
Ryoko decided to go back to the Dojo and train even though Tenchi had expressed his apprehension towards the idea. Once he was occupied in the fields he wouldn't know if she was gone.
Ryoko pulled out her dimensional doorway and threw it into the air. She passed through it and found herself at the foot of the mountain.
'Not this again.' Ryoko thought looking at the mountain as it stretched into the sky. 'I might as well try my powers.'
Ryoko tried to teleport to the top of the mountain and found that she could.
'Yeah! Now we're talking. I won't be defeated so easily by Adrien today!'
"Ryoko! How nice to see you. Didn't you know you were supposed to be here hours ago!" said Adrien coming out of the Dojo.
"Yeah, well, Tenchi didn't want me to come anymore."
"Oh, I see. Well, then we'll just start our lessons for today now ok?"
"Sure thing" Ryoko replied looking at Adrien's masked face. 'I'm surprised he let me off the hook so easily just by me telling him that Tenchi didn't want me coming here…he doesn't even know who Tenchi is kind of think of it…'
"Ryoko come on. You've kept the master waiting long enough," said Adrien making his way back inside.
"Right, coming!" Ryoko called following after him.
"This time I've set up an alternate dimension for you two to fight in since the last time you guys fought my entrance hall got damaged in the process, I had underestimated your skill then, Ryoko," said Master Terminus.
"Glad you won't be making the same mistake twice," replied Ryoko.
With a wave of Master Terminus' hand the landscape surrounding Ryoko and Adrien changed. It went from the marble entrance hall to an alien planet. The planet was desolate with nothing but miles and miles of red sand stretching as far as the eye could see. The gravity was noticeably stronger than on earth. Purple clouds and a magenta sky surrounded them; three moons could be seen overhead also. It was beautiful. Ryoko stood marveling at her surroundings almost forgetting why she was there.
"So are we going to spar or are we going to have a picnic?" Adrien asked raising an eyebrow. This was not at all how he imagined the Space Pirate Ryoko…
"Huh? Oh, right, let's spar!" Ryoko said coming to her senses. 'What am I going to do with myself. Would I really rather enjoy spending time in a beautiful place like this rather than fighting. Tenchi you have a bad influence on me!'
Somewhere in Okayama…
"Ahchoo" sneezed Tenchi.
"Meow!"
"Thanks Ryo-oki!"
Back on the Alien Planet…
Ryoko and Adrien faced each other preparing to attack. This time would be entirely different because they could both use their powers.
"So why don't we make a bet on the out come of this fight…"started Ryoko.
"Oh yeah, and with what terms?"
"Well, if I win you'll take that silly mask off."
"And if I win?"
"Hmmm how about I'll go on a date with you."
"Deal!" said Adrien looking thoroughly pleased with himself. 'She doesn't know what she's getting herself into.' He thought.
Ryoko flew at Adrien igniting her energy sword while Adrien ran at her igniting his own. The two swords clashed and they both jumped back from one another smiling. Ryoko raised her hand and decided to try an energy attack, the energy began to gather in her hand and she released it towards Adrien. Adrien got out of the way just in time. He released an energy attack of his own at Ryoko and Ryoko just used her force field to block the attack. The two off them began to increase the amounts of energy put into each attack as the attacks themselves became more complex.
'Damn, if she keeps this up I may not get that date. I want to end this quickly but I'm supposed to be keeping Ryoko occupied while Tokimi makes her second attack on Tenchi,' thought Adrien.
Meanwhile in Okayama…
Tenchi was working in the carrot patch while the girls were doing chores around the house.
"Whew!" Tenchi said wiping the sweat off of his brow. "It's really hot out today. Isn't is Ryo-Oki?"
"Mia!" agreed Ryo-Oki.
Just then three demons came out of the ground materializing around Tenchi.
"What the? Uh oh…" Tenchi started as the Demons closed in. "This is not good."
Tenchi whipped out Sword Tenchi (which he carried with him a lot recently) and charged the demons.
Back on the alien planet…
Adrien was running while avoiding Ryoko's onslaught of energy-blast attacks. He managed to dodge Ryoko's sword as she teleported in front of him bringing her sword down. She swung again only to be met by his sword this time. They grinned at each other. At this point in time it seemed like Ryoko had the upper hand but Adrien was still holding back.
'It can't be long now…they should have the boy soon…'thought Adrien.
Back at the Carrot Patch…
"Ahhhh" Tenchi let out a battle cry as he faced the demons. He swung Sword Tenchi managing to block all of the demons' attacks even though it was three against one.
"Hey, I thought Ryoko told you demons to never come back!"…'Unless she called for them again…'
One demon responded…
"Ryoko is not here and unless she returns we have no choice but to follow our other Goddess' orders and capture you."
"Other Goddess? So Ryoko is not responsible for you demons attacking me then?"
"No, Ryoko was not the one that sent us here. Our Lady Tokimi did. I am only telling you this out of respect for Ryoko's last command, if she was here we would have no choice but to obey her command and release you"
'Where is Ryoko?' thought Tenchi.
"Enough of this talking. We have to get this boy to our Lady" said one of the demons.
The first one nodded and they attacked Tenchi again. This time they managed to disarm him and gave him a bad slash across the chest in the process.
Tenchi fell to the ground. He was defeated.
"Ryoko where are you? RYOKO!!!!!!!!!!" yelled Tenchi.
One of the demons backhanded him with his scaly, clawed hand knocking Tenchi out.
Meanwhile on the alien planet…
Ryoko and Adrien were still fighting and Adrien was just about to get ready for one of his finishing attacks when…
'Ryoko!' "Tenchi?" Ryoko asked herself aloud while letting her energy sword dissipate.
"What's wrong?" asked Adrien.
"I thought I heard something…"
"Really? Like what?"
"Like a scream…a scream for help…"
"Ryoko you're imagining things" Adrein said looking worried and frustrated.
"No I'm not! I heard a call for help and I'm not imagining things. Something is wrong and I have to find out what it is! I have to go to my Tenchi!"
"Ryoko don't go!" Adrien said grabbing hold of Ryoko's arm. "I can't let you go."
"You mean you're going to stop me from checking up on the people I love to see if they're ok?" Ryoko questioned with disbelief in her eyes. "What would be the point?"
'Yes what would be the point,' thought Adrien. "It's just that we haven't finished our sparring match…"
Adrien let go of Ryoko's arm and Ryoko smiled at him.
"I'll be back and we'll continue our little match then. If you want I'll go on a date with you since you seem to want it so badly. So don't look so glum ok?" Ryoko said as she used her Dimensional Travel Door to go back to Okayama.
"DAMN IT!" Adrien screamed as he pointed his hand up at one of the moons of the alien planet and blasted it to pieces. He then fell to the ground and began pounding his fists in the sand.
'Why! Why couldn't it be me she was going after! Why not me!?' Adrien thought his eyes red with unshed tears. 'Why do I have such strong feeling for her?! I don't understand this!'
Back in Okayama…
Ryoko stepped out of the dimensional doorway onto the carrot patch.
"TENCHI!" screamed Ryoko as she saw Tenchi lying unconscious in the dirt surrounded by three demons.
"Get away from him!" she screamed teleporting to his side.
The demons turned to face her.
"You are not our Goddess," said one.
Ryoko saw where Sword Tenchi had fallen on the ground and picked it up…
"I'll remedy that!" Ryoko said as she concentrated on getting to the power of the gems. Doing this for the second time the power was easier to get to. She felt the energy empower her as her aura glowed red and her outfit changed into the red and black dress she had worn the last time. She could feel her old powers returning to her…
"I AM YOUR GODDESS ONCE MORE! NOW LEAVE US ALONE!"
The demons cowered to their knees and sunk into the ground.
Ryoko let go of the sword, gasping for breath. She went to Tenchi's side and shook his shoulder.
"Tenchi? Tenchi please wake up!" pleaded Ryoko.
"What? Mmmm Ryoko? Is that you?"
"Oh, Tenchi I'm so glad you're ok!" Ryoko gave Tenchi a bone-breaking hug.
"Ack! Careful Ryoko haven't you done enough all ready?" Tenchi said referring to the hug.
Ryoko was a little taken aback, what was he implying…
"Oh Tenchi I didn't cause them to come here again! You have to believe me! It's not my fault! I don't want to lose my friendship with you because of this…all I ever wanted was to gain your trust!" Ryoko said as she let out a sob. Tenchi was caught of guard. Ryoko had misunderstood him, and he had never seen Ryoko cry before.
"I believe you." Tenchi said smiling up at Ryoko. He was getting lost in her golden eyes. They looked even more beautiful sparkling with her unshed tears.
"You…you do?" Ryoko said blinking back her tears.
"Of course I do. And I never got to thank you for the last time…thank you for saving my life Ryoko."
"Anytime Tenchi. Anytime!" Ryoko said looking back at Tenchi.
The two stayed looking at each other in their embrace for a while before the two of them walked back to the house hand in hand. Little did they know that someone was watching from a window…
End of Chapter 3! Hope you liked it!
Why does Adrien have such strong feelings for Ryoko? Why does he wear a mask? What is Tokimi going to do now that this plan has failed…she didn't anticipate that strong a bond between Ryoko and Tenchi. Will Ayeka continue to be under Tokimi's mind control? All this and more in the next exciting chapter!