Disclaimer: Tenchi-Muyo is owned by Pioneer and AIC.
Author's note: Dark scene ahead later in the story. You have been warned.
Chapter 6:The Dream…
All of Jurai was in chaos. Ryoko and Ryo-Oki had managed to break through Jurai's defenses and were using the Amulet/Talisman locator-device to determine Tsunami's location.
"Miaaaaaaaaowwwww!" Ryo-Oki cried as she sped through the air.
"According to the locator Tsunami should be just beyond that wall." Ryoko said to Ryo-Oki.
Ryoko rematerialized outside of Ryo-Oki and formed an energy blast and sent it hurtling towards the building. There was a huge explosion and the wall collapsed. Coming from inside there was the sound of a child's scream…
"Now, I just need to get inside and find Tsunami."
"Hold it right there, Demoness Ryoko!" A voice yelled out behind her.
Ryoko turned around to see none other than Yosho, the crown prince of Jurai.
"Don't get involved, your highness, unless you want to die before ascending the throne!" yelled Ryoko.
"I don't plan to die and I don't plan to ascend the throne either!" Yosho shot back. "But I do plan to defeat you."
'I hope he does manage to defeat me.' Ryoko thought to herself.
"Bring it on, Yosho!"
The two ignited their energy swords, Ryoko her red-saber and Yosho Tenchi-ken. They charged at each other and their swords met.
'He is very powerful' thought Ryoko. 'I'll be free from you in death Kagato…'
A voice in Ryoko's head responded, "No you don't Ryoko. I'm not going to let you allow Yosho to defeat you! You still need to get Tsunami for me and I'm not letting you have your freedom in death so easily!'
Suddenly Kagato took complete control of Ryoko's body and her eyes gleamed a bright red.
"DIE YOSHO!" yelled a red-eyed Ryoko as she attacked Yosho.
"AHHHHHH" screamed Yosho as he charged towards Ryoko.
Their swords clashed once more. Yosho put more energy into Sword Tenchi and the shear force of it threw Ryoko back.
Ryoko shakily got up. 'The Jurai power is so…invincible. You've lost Kagato.' Thought Ryoko.
'We haven't lost yet! You'll be more of a match for him in Ryo-Oki! Let's see how he fares against the two of you!' Kagato yelled back to Ryoko.
Ryoko found herself teleporting to Ryo-Oki and herself and Ryo-Oki leaving Jurai. 'How can you be so sure he will follow us Kagato?' asked Ryoko.
'I know because the crown prince doesn't want to ascend the throne. He'll use this as an excuse to leave Jurai, maybe for good. You will lure him to some remote planet and finish him off there!'
'I have no choice; it would be pointless for me to try to go against Kagato's command. I only hope that Yosho is as powerful as they say he is.'
Ryo-Oki sped away, Yosho in hot pursuit in his own tree-ship.
"Ryo-Oki open fire!"
"Mia!!!!"
Ryo-Oki let loose a barrage of energy blasts in the direction of Yosho's ship.
"Damn that Ryoko! Fire now!"
Yosho's ship returned Ryo-Oki's attack with it's own energy blast attack.
'Damn it, if I defeat Yosho I won't be free from Kagato's control till hell freezes over! I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!' thought Ryoko.
"Ryo-Oki position yourself for a collision course. This is the only way I can finally escape my cursed life."
"Mia?"
"DO IT NOW RYO-OKI!"
"MIAAAAAA!!!!!!"
Ryo-Oki sped towards Yosho's ship at full speed.
"What?! Is she crazy? We'll never survive the collision!" yelled Yosho. "Quick, take evasive action! Quick…IT'S TOO LATE! AHHHHHHHH!!!!"
The two ships collided with such a force they were thrown into the atmosphere of a near by planet-that planet was earth.
'RYOKO WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING! YOU HAD BETTER SURVIVE!' Kagato yelled in Ryoko's mind.
Kagato used his control over Ryoko to make her activate a protective force field around herself and Ryo-Oki.
The two ships fell through the atmosphere as their exteriors began to break apart…
"Miaa!!!!!"
"I'm so sorry Ryo-Oki. I forgot that maybe you didn't want death as much as I do," said Ryoko.
The two ships crash-landed as they fell into a lake with an enormous splash…
Yosho managed to get out of his ship's wreckage and swim to the surface of the lake. Gasping for breath he scanned the area for Ryoko.
"Looking for someone, Yosho?"
Ryoko was floating in the air above him, eyes gleaming a deep red. She had survived also.
"That's right." Yosho said as he pulled himself onto the shore and ignited Sword Tenchi.
"Shall we continue our little match then?" asked Ryoko.
"Yes," responded Yosho.
The two began to attack each other ruthlessly with various energy attacks. The surrounding trees were being blown up in the process. They then changed strategies and switched to fighting with their energy swords.
Ryoko was fighting Kagato's control with all her strength during this time. This caused Ryoko's form to become sloppy and allow Yosho the upper hand in the fight. Yosho could sense something was wrong but couldn't figure out what it was.
'WHY WON'T YOU LET ME DIE KAGATO?!' Ryoko screamed in her mind.
'Don't try and fight me Ryoko! You are mine and cannot escape me even in death! I will track you down even to the infernal place of departed sprits. Whatever form you take you belong to me!' cried Kagato in her mind.
Ryoko and Yosho were preparing for their finishing attacks…
'This is it, it's now or never,' thought Ryoko.
The two charged at each other swords raised…
Ryoko willed her blade to miss its target and it did.
Ryoko looked down to see Yosho's energy sword piercing her throat. Then Ryoko's body began to shake violently as Sword Tenchi began to take her gems away. All three gems were stored in the hilt of the sword as Ryoko collapsed lifeless to the floor.
Yosho walked over to her and was preparing to finish her off when Ryoko lifted her head and turned it to look up at Yosho. Tears forming in her golden-eyes she began to speak.
"Thank…you…Kagato… he controlled me with using the gems…only one other person has ever tried to save me…like you have now…funny I never knew his name…they called him…the Shadow Bounty Hunter…"
Yosho was startled by what Ryoko had spoken, "The Shadow Bounty Hunter? You knew him? He…He was my brother!"
"You're brother? Then I'm truly sorry for you."
"What do you mean? What has happened to him?!"
"He's dead…and it's all my fault…" Ryoko said as her unshed tears began to stream down her face.
"You! You are responsible for my brother's death!?"
"Yes…I…killed him…"
"Then you don't deserve to live!"
Yosho was about to bring his sword down upon Ryoko to slay her when he realized this wasn't justice, "Even though you deserve death I can see you are so wretched that you will only welcome it. Therefore, I sentence you to eternal imprisonment."
"Imprisonment?" Ryoko asked as she passed out.
Imprisonment…
Ryoko awoke to total darkness…
"Am I dead?" Ryoko asked herself.
At first Ryoko was happy, she thought that she had finally managed to escape Kagato.
Then Ryoko realized she was breathing…
Where was she?
"No, it can't be? I've been imprisoned by Yosho is some sort of cave." Ryoko thought as her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
'He was supposed to kill me for death of his brother not imprison me! Yosho you can't just leave me here like this! Yosho! Let me tell you the truth! I didn't actually kill your brother! It was Kagato! I just thought that you would kill me and end my misery! But you didn't! YOSHOOOOO!' Ryoko yelled into the darkness. But it was of no use; no one could hear her screams or her pleas. Ryoko began to sob into her hands…
'It's just not fair! I don't deserve this! Do I?…'
Ryoko cried herself to sleep in the gloomy, lightless cave…
She had been freed from the prison that was her mind for over 2000 years only to be confined in a lonely prison of darkness. She would have no one to talk to…no one to be with for company…no one at all…
Until one day…
End of Dream…
Ryoko awoke from her dream…
Beads of sweat were on her forehead…
Then she began to weep, she whimpered as she remembered her former prison…
'So many years in that cave for a crime I didn't commit. The dark and the cold… were my only companions for so many years' Ryoko shivered as an icy chill when down her spin. These were the last of her painful memories, and so her assimilation with Zero was finally complete. Ryoko continued to lament…
"Do not cry it makes you look like a fallen angel." Said a voice.
Ryoko turned her head to look in the direction of the voice and was astounded by who she saw.
"It's you…but how? You're dead…this isn't real…" Ryoko said barely noticing that she was speaking. Ryoko looked at the person before her but was convinced he was nothing than a delusion…
"Is that the greeting you give all your long lost friends that come back to life?"
Ryoko hopped off her rafter and gently landed on the ground.
Ryoko stood looking into the man's deep emerald green eyes…
She never forgot those eyes…
Ryoko was getting lost in them when she realized she was starring.
"My Shadow Bounty Hunter…I never thought I would see you again!" Ryoko said as she brought the Shadow Bounty Hunter into a bone-breaking hug.
"Careful Ryoko or else I really will be dead."
"But how? I saw you and your ship destroyed? There was no way you could have survived?"
"Well, I guess I was really lucky, let me tell you what happened. Before my ship was destroyed I had decided to seal myself up into a stasis-pod for my long journey home. When Kado was hit my pod managed to survive and floated out in space for several years before I was found. By the time I was it was many years after your so-called attack on Jurai. No one knew what had happened to you or the crown prince Yosho after the attack, until recently. Reports came to Jurai that you were on Earth and of everything that had happened since you first landed there. I've been searching the Universe for you Ryoko hoping that one day I would find you. And I finally have."
"You've been searching for me all this time? But I don't understand. Why would you go through so much trouble just to find me?"
"Ryoko, I made you a promise that I would come back for you…save you from the hell that was your life. When I got a glimpse of your heart that day you tried to save the young girl, I feel in love with you. I loved you then, and I still do."
"You love me?"
"Yes, and I was hoping that you shared some of the same feeling that I have for you."
"I…I also fell in love with you that day. You were the first person to ever be kind to me during my years under Kagato. You tried to save me. How could I not love you? But after so many years of loving you and with you being dead I decided I should try to move on. At first it seemed hopeless but then…
Ryoko started break down and cry letting her tears stream down her face unchecked. She had so many conflicting emotions welling up inside of her she didn't know what else to do.
"Ryoko, I know all about how your heart has found another. It was all in the reports, it's just I had to hear it from you before I would believe it. If you want me to leave I will…"
"No! Never leave me again! You can't! I…I want you to stay!"
The bounty hunter smiled.
"I had a feeling you'd say that." As he observed that Ryoko's gem was glowing.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're alive! I…" Ryoko said as she got choked up and gave the bounty hunter another embrace crying into his chest.
He was the first person she had ever expressed her emotions to while under Kagato so it wasn't so hard for her to express her emotions around him as it was with Tenchi. She felt a deep sense of relief. She didn't have to feel like she was competing. She already had her bounty hunter's love. She felt she could be herself without losing anything, like her pride.
"Ryoko, I love you so much."
"And I…I…want to know your name."
The bounty hunter pulled Ryoko away from him and looked directly into her shimmering golden-orbs.
"Ryoko, you know why I don't have a name…"
"Yes, so death can't find you. But I'm not…"
"I know you're not death, but the only person I ever plan to reveal my name to is…"
"Who?"
"My wife. And so Ryoko if you will be my wife I will tell you my true identity on our marriage night."
"You…you want to marry me?"
"Yes," said the bounty hunter getting on one knee before Ryoko. He pulled a small box from out of his leather Jacket and opened it up. He took out a small golden ring that had a beautiful cyan-colored diamond in the center. The diamond matched Ryoko's hair perfectly. "Ryoko will you marry me?"
"I…uh…don't know what to say. It's just all so sudden I…"
"Just listen to your heart, my Ryoko."
"Well…" Ryoko tried to listen to her heart but with all the different emotions inside of her she didn't know what to think. What about Tenchi? She loved Tenchi didn't she? And then against her will all of Ryoko's painful memories with Tenchi came to mind. The time he ran away from her in the cave, the time he said he hated her, and then a recent memory of Ryoko trying to kiss him again and him still pulling away.
'Tenchi…why won't you ever love me? Maybe my love for you isn't as true as I thought…Tenchi…why should I give my heart to you if you don't want it! I should give my heart to someone I can love and who will love me in return…'
"I…I will marry you. I mean yes I will marry you. I know now that it was only you I ever loved. Love can be led astray like my love for you. And I'm sorry for that. I don't think I've ever stopped loving you. I used to dream about when you would kill Kagato and take me away with you. When Tenchi killed Kagato he didn't even give me a chance to thank him. I know now that my savior has finally come, and that savior is you."
"Ryoko…until our marriage how about you call me Shadow, will that be alright for now?"
"Alright, Shadow darling. I…love you." Ryoko said as if she was reassuring herself of her decision.
"And I love you, my Ryoko. You belong to me now. Do you mind giving up your freedom?"
"No, not as longs as it's to be with you."
The two of them leaned in for a gentle kiss, but for some reason the kiss felt wrong to Ryoko.
'I'm probably just nervous. I mean I have realized my love for Shadow and decided that I'm going to marry him all in one day! That means I'll still have to say good-bye to Tenchi and even though I know now that I don't love him it will still be hard.' Perhaps what Ryoko was feeling was guilt…
The couple failed to notice that Tenchi was watching the whole scene from the top of the stairs. He had heard Ryoko crying and had come down to comfort her when he saw some man talking to her. At first Tenchi was going to go to Ryoko's aid in case she was in danger but then heard what the man started to say…someone from Ryoko's past comes back for her…. someone she thought was dead…someone she had never stopped loving…
It was a little too much for Tenchi to handle as he headed back up to his room. Tenchi collapsed on his bed and tried to figure out what he was feeling.
'So that guy is from Ryoko's past. I think I've heard of this Shadow Bounty Hunter from Grandpa, I'll have to ask him about that when I get a chance. I can't believe that Ryoko is going to marry him, or that she's in love with him-correction never stopped loving him. Can I really let Ryoko slip through my fingers now that I know…know that I love her. Damn it, why did it take so long for me to figure that out. I Love Ryoko! What am I going to do? I can't lose her, not now!' Tenchi thought his heart racing.
Meanwhile…
"So, my love, let's get going," said Shadow taking Ryoko by the hand and leading her to the door.
"But Shadow I can't leave without saying good-bye to all my friends first."
"Are they really your friends Ryoko? I wanted to see how your life was here before I interfered with it. And what I saw was not the life I hoped you had. Here you are in love with some boy that won't give you the time of day, even though you are an incredibly beautiful woman. Also you have to constantly compete for his affections along with all the other girls that live here. The saddest part of all is that Tenchi has already chosen who he loves but won't admit it to you because he doesn't have courage in his own convictions."
"What do you mean Tenchi has already chosen? He told me…"
"What he told you was a lie. See for yourself, I have here in my possession a formal wedding announcement from Jurai revealing that Tenchi has chosen to marry Ayeka and ascend the throne. I hate to be the one to have to show you this." Shadow said as he handed Ryoko the announcement.
Ryoko looked over the newspaper clipping that Shadow had handed to her. In bold letters at the top of the article read-"Tenchi Masaki will wed Ayeka Jurai".
"I…I don't believe it. It's true it's all here. The wedding is to be a couple months from now…when was he planning on telling me this?"
"Probably the day of the wedding, seeing how this guy is so quailing."
"Tenchi isn't really faint-hearted he's just indecisive. But it's not like him to be this heartless; I'm surprised he wouldn't have told me sooner. What as the point in him telling me he hadn't chosen when really he had."
"Maybe you were in some kind of trouble and he wanted to lift your spirits."
"I see, it all makes sense now." Ryoko said. 'I've been ignoring the facts all along. Tenchi loves Ayeka and he hates me. I knew it! I knew I never had a chance. How could Tenchi do this to me! I almost lost this second chance to love because of him!'
"You're right. We should leave right away. I don't want to stay here anymore. No one cares about me here anyways…no one will miss me…"
"What about Ryo-Oki?"
"I want to leave her here with Sasami."
"A wise decision. That is a very nice gesture Ryoko. You can always come back and visit if you want but I think you should leave now and not come back until after the wedding."
"I don't want to be a thorn in Tenchi's side. I want him to be happy even if he doesn't love me. He and Ayeka will make a very lovely couple, they're wedding will be beautiful too I bet…I would just be unwanted there…"
"Our wedding can be even more beautiful. What would you say to getting married on this little planet called Terra Nova? It's very beautiful there and the people are really nice."
"Terra Nova…I would love to!"
As if in a trance Ryoko followed Shadow out the door not looking back.
Meanwhile in Tenchi's room…
'Maybe if I tell her I love her she'll stay here with me instead. Maybe it's not me but this other guy that's leading Ryoko astray from her true love. I am that love. I've seen the way she looks at me, fights for me, and tries to kiss me. She loves me! Not some blast from the past! I have to tell her before it's too late!' Tenchi thought as he swung the door to his room open and ran downstairs.
The sound of a ship taking off over the lake could be heard as Tenchi ran downstairs.
'Ryoko wouldn't leave without saying Good-bye? Would she? Does that mean she doesn't even want her gems back?'
Tenchi ran outside to see a ship leaving the earth's atmosphere…
"NOO!!!!!! RYOKO! DON'T GO RYOKO!!!!! COME BACK!!!!! RYOKOOOOOO!" Tenchi yelled at the ship as its image got smaller and smaller until Tenchi couldn't see it anymore.
'The hold I thought I had on Ryoko so that she would never leave me failed. I should have just given her the gems when she had first asked me for them. I have no right to keep them; they don't even belong to me. At least I have something to remember Ryoko by. She looked so happy to be there with him, with someone that loved her. I wonder if I could have given her that happiness? I waited to long to realize how I felt about Ryoko and missed my chance. Something as precious as the love Ryoko had expressed and felt for me was really something special. Love like that doesn't come around everyday, and yet I treated it like shit. I treated her love like it didn't mean anything to me. I was lying to myself and most of all I was lying to her.'
Tenchi slowly walked back to the house. He had failed to keep Ryoko from leaving. He had lost the woman he loved. As Tenchi entered the house he saw a crumpled up piece of paper on the floor….
On Shadow's ship….
"So my Ryoko no regrets I hope?" asked Shadow.
"No, no regrets. I only wish I never had to go through all that pain just to realize I wasn't loved. And that I don't love Tenchi. If only I had known you were alive, I would have waited for you…I never would have stopped loving you."
"I know Ryoko. I love you so much."
"And I love you."
The ship sped off to Terra nova…
Back at the Masaki house…
"What's this? A marriage announcement?! But this isn't true! I'm not marrying Ayeka?! Hmm something's not right. I'll have to talk to Ayeka about all this when she wakes up."
On the planet Terra Nova…
Ryoko and Shadow were married. The two newly weds decided to spend their first night together amongst the stars aboard Shadow's ship.
On Shadow's ship…
Shadow was carrying Ryoko over to his bed where he gently laid her down upon it.
"So are you going to tell me your name now?"
"In a minute." Shadow said as got on top of Ryoko and stopped her just as she was about to open her mouth to protest by kissing her passionately.
"I used to dream of the day that you and I would be together. But then my dream would always turn into a nightmare and you would go and I'd be left with Kagato."
"This is no nightmare…this is real."
"Mmmm I know…." Ryoko said as she deepened the kiss.
Back at the Masaki residence…
"So you're telling me your mother, Misaki, is behind this marriage announcement, Ayeka?"
"Yes, I'm so sorry Lord Tenchi I really have no idea what she was thinking."
"It's not me you should be apologizing to."
"What do you mean Tenchi?"
"Ryoko left because of this marriage announcement."
"Left? But how? Sasami's upstairs with Ryo-Oki? And beside she wouldn't leave you without a fight."
"You're wrong Ayeka, she left with someone. A guy named Shadow…"
"Shadow? You mean the famous Shadow Bounty Hunter? He's supposed to be dead?!"
"You know about him?"
"Yes, you see he was Yosho's brother, as well as mine. You're grandfather told me all about how Shadow was dead when his identity was revealed that day. He also said that he found out that Kagato had killed him when one of Kagato's men was captured. The day he found that out that's when he decided to let you get the keys to the cave and free Ryoko."
"Ayeka, I don't understand. Why would grandpa decided to set Ryoko free because of that?"
"Because when my brother defeated Ryoko she lied and told him that she had killed his brother Shadow so that he would kill her. But instead he locked her up in that cave as her punishment because death would not be a punishment to her because she had wanted it so badly."
"Ryoko wanted death?"
"She must have been going crazy under Kagato's control. It's understandable she would feel that way."
"Ryoko…"
Just then there was a knock at the door…
"I'll get it," said Tenchi.
Tenchi opened the door and was surprised to find whom he identified as "Ryoko's sparring partner".
"Hello, I'm Adrien, you may remember me. I was wondering if Ryoko was here? I kind of brought her some chocolates."
"Huh, oh, Ryoko…she's left…"
"What? What do you mean she left? She would never leave here, I mean she loves you, right?"
Tenchi was relieved that someone else thought Ryoko's sudden change of heart was strange.
"I also thought she loved me. But she left with some guy, named the Shadow Bounty Hunter to be specific. You may have heard of him. He was supposed to be dead but apparently he's not." Tenchi said sadly.
"Shadow Bounty Hunter…" began Adrien. 'Why does that name stir something inside me? Why does it sound so familiar, like a long lost friend?'
Suddenly Adrien's vision became foggy as he clutched his head in pain…
Flash back…
"So the famous Shadow Bounty Hunter, known for not having a name, decides to help me…"
"Oh, so you've heard of my reputation. I'll let you in on a little secret. I have a name, but no one knows what it is but me, that way Death can't find me"
"Clever."
"I thought so"
End of Flashback.
"I…I remember…who I was…I remember everything." Adrien said more to himself than Tenchi.
"Hey, are you ok? What is it you remember?" Tenchi asked looking worriedly at Adrien.
"We have to go and save Ryoko. The man that she is with now is not the real Shadow Bounty Hunter!"
"How do you know?"
"Did you get a good look at his face?"
"Yeah, why?"
Adrien took his mask off.
"Because I am the Shadow Bounty Hunter Ryoko knew with all those years ago. The other guy that came and took Ryoko must be an imposter!"
"Oh, God Ryoko!"
"Before we go, you must promise me not to reveal my identity to Ryoko."
"But…wouldn't she want to know that you're alive?"
"She can't know right now, when the time is right I'll reveal my identity to her."
"Well, ok, I promise."
Back on "Shadow's" ship…
"Mmmm" Ryoko mumbled as she kissed Shadow.
Shadow slowly began to undo Ryoko's dress and slip his hands under it to feel her breasts…
Ryoko gasped.
'Why do I feel…afraid? It must be that I'm just nervous since this is my first time. And with my past memories with Kagato I guess I have a good reason to feel afraid.' Ryoko took a deep breath as she tried to get her feeling of fear to go away.
Shadow then began to undo his shirt and threw it to the floor. He then slid Ryoko's dress all the way off leaving her naked under him.
Shadow began to press his body against Ryoko as he caressed her. But something was still bothering Ryoko so she pushed him away from her.
"Stop…I just…maybe we're moving to fast…"
"Ryoko, we're married remember."
"I know…it's just something doesn't feel right."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. I think maybe we should wait until I know you a little better…you still haven't told me your name."
Shadow pressed himself harder against Ryoko's naked body…
"No? You don't want my love Ryoko?"
Ryoko shuddered, where had she heard that said before…
Ryoko tried to get off the bed but Shadow kept her there pressing his body even harder against her causing her breasts to bruise.
"Stop you're hurting me."
"Hurting you? Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you, my Ryoko. But would you mind telling me why you don't want to make love to your husband?"
Ryoko suddenly felt guilty. Here was Shadow who had just married her because he deeply loved her and here she was turning him away; much in the same way Tenchi had pushed her away all those times.
"I'm sorry it's just…when I was under Kagato's
control he used to threaten me with…rape.
Ryoko said tears forming in her eyes, she knew Shadow would understand her need
to wait until she was more comfortable around him. Wouldn't he?
"Oh, really? And that's supposed to make it ok that you don't want to make love to me?"
"No, it's not that I don't want to, it's just that I can't…"
"Why did you marry me in the first place Ryoko if you don't love me enough to make love to me. You either love me or you don't."
"No, that's not true. I love you very much it's just that…I'm afraid."
"Afraid! You are afraid of your own husband?! I think you should try harder to get over it! I may decide to divorce you because of this."
"Please, don't be mad, it's just I can't…at least not right now…something isn't right…please get off of me…"
"I thought you wanted the bounty hunter's love, my Ryoko! I thought you wanted his love even when he was dead…"
Ryoko's eyes widened in horror…
"Who are you?! You aren't the real Shadow?! The real Shadow would never force me to do something I didn't want to do! Get off of me!" Ryoko yelled as she tried to sit up but Shadow just pushed her back down.
"I'll tell you my name, my Ryoko…that was the deal wasn't it…you become my wife and I reveal my true identity to you…" Shadow said as he leaned in to whisper his identity to Ryoko. "I am Kagato. Boo."
Ryoko let out an ear-piercing scream. Her worst nightmare was becoming a reality.
"KAGATO NO! YOU CAN'T BE HERE! YOU'RE DEAD! TENCHI KILLED YOU!"
"I should be dead, but a certain goddess took pity on this love-struck fool and brought me back to life so that I could be with you, my Ryoko."
"What are you talking about, which Goddess?"
"The Goddess Tokimi of course!"
"Tokimi? She brought you back from the dead to get me away from Tenchi didn't she!?"
"You catch on quick, my Ryoko."
"What is she going to do to Tenchi!? I have to get to Tenchi!" Ryoko tried to get away from Kagato but he just pushed her back down on the bed.
"I had anticipated you would react like this so Tokimi made sure you would be, how shall I put this…incapacitated."
"What…what are you talking about?"
Kagato activated his energy sword and stabbed Ryoko through the chest with it. Ryoko felt immense pain and screamed in agony. To her shock she was also bleeding. Ryoko began to cough up blood as she spoke to Kagato, "But how?" Ryoko asked as she touched her wound and looked at the blood that was on her hand in disbelief.
"It's really all thanks to your dear mother, Washu. She deactivated your regenerative capabilities when you went to her to get your sense of taste back. It's a shame I never thought of it, I had always wondered why you never bled. This is better than any present on Christmas, I will have fun making you bleed if you resist me Ryoko. I told you that if you went against my rules I would have to punish you. You have broken many of my rules Ryoko. You have even dared to fall in love after my warning of what should happen to you if you did."
"Please, Kagato no! I didn't really fall in love remember. You said it yourself I never stopped loving the bounty hunter."
"Silence! You cannot trick me in to letting you off the hook so easily! Now that I have you where I want you I don't plan to let you go. But it seems I can trick you very easily, my Ryoko. Aren't you curious as to how I made you think you were in love with me?"
"What…what do you mean…how you managed to impersonate Shadow?"
"No, I'm talking about how I made you feel stronger feelings for me than you normally would have felt given my true identity. I used your gem. As long as you have that gem Ryoko I will always have a hold over you. The funny thing is that it is a part of you, and so I am a part of you also."
"You're wrong Kagato you're hold over me isn't as strong as you think. I still felt that something was wrong when I kissed you."
"Silence! Who asked you for your opinion anyways!!!! Now it's time to make your nightmare come true Ryoko. What did you say you used to dream about…the bounty hunter and you together and then he would leave you and I would remain?!"
Kagato's imaged changed from "Shadow" to "Kagato".
"Now, I bet this brings back memories, hmm my Ryoko?"
Ryoko was too petrified to say anything. All she knew was that she had to fight no matter what the consequence. She would rather die fighting than give in to what Kagato wanted.
Ryoko glared up at Kagato, "I will never submit to you!" And Ryoko spit in his face.
"BITCH!" Kagato yelled as he hit Ryoko across the face. Blood trailed down from the corner of Ryoko's mouth.
He then formed an energy-blade and used it to pin one of Ryoko's hands down, he formed another one to pin her other hand down. He did this by stabbing Ryoko through her wrists with the blade and through the bed. He did the same thing to Ryoko at her ankles. She was completely restrained pinned down to the bed and at Kagato's mercy. Blood began to leak from Ryoko's wounds as she groaned in pain.
Kagato then began to lick the blood from Ryoko's chest wound and from her other wounds as well. He then forcibly kissed her and then looked back at Ryoko's expression-she was completely revolted. She couldn't believe that she had kissed him earlier of her own free will.
"Mmmmm blood…you taste sweet, my Ryoko."
"I'm warning you Kagato you better get off me or else" Ryoko said in a shaky voice.
"Or else what? There is nothing you can do to stop me. I plan to make you mine Ryoko-mind, body, and soul by taking your body! I suppose you think your love will come and save you? I made sure that the boy was listening when I took you away with me Ryoko. He thinks you're happy with your newfound love. He won't be coming for you. Not this time Ryoko." Kagato said as he unbuttoned his pants.
"He's not coming…"
"And do you know what else?! Tenchi wouldn't come for you even if he did know you were in trouble because he doesn't love you! He doesn't care whether you live or die!"
Ryoko wailed, "It's true…it's all true." 'He doesn't care, I'm trapped, I'm all alone and no one is going to help me!' Ryoko thought as sobs wracked her body…
"YOU'RE WRONG KAGATO! I DO CARE!" A voice rang out behind them.
Ryoko turned her head to see who it was-it was Tenchi.
"Tenchi…you came?" Ryoko said trying to force a smile. Her doubts about him caring for her still plagued her mind.
"GET AWAY FROM HER KAGATO!"
Kagato got up from Ryoko, rematerializing his clothes in the process. He could have just dematerialized out of his clothes when he was on Ryoko, but taking the time to do it himself gave more time for Ryoko cower before him in fear and in the hopes that she still had a chance to get away from the inevitable.
"You were able to defeat me the last time boy but this time you won't be so lucky. I am more powerful than before. I will defeat you!" Kagato said igniting his blue energy sword. A strong icy wind blew around them from out of now where, as snow filled the air.
"We'll see about that!" Tenchi said as he ignited Sword Tenchi and charged at Kagato with a battle cry. "AHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
The two warrior's swords clashed sending sparks into the air illuminating the room with electric waves of blue.
Ryoko who was still pinned to the table by the four energy swords could do nothing but watch.
"Need some help?" asked a voice by Ryoko.
Ryoko turned her head to see Adrien (he had his mask back on).
"Adrien, you came too."
"Of course, the people that care for you will always come for you, Ryoko."
Adrien began to gently remove the blades from Ryoko's wrists and ankles. He then wrapped his floor length leather jacket around Ryoko's naked body.
Blood from all of Ryoko's wounds was getting everywhere.
"Sorry…about your jacket…" mumbled Ryoko.
"Don't worry about it, I never like that jacket much anyways. What's important is that Tenchi is going to distract Kagato until I manage to get you safely away. Then he's going to use a device Washu gave him to escape. Kagato is too powerful right now to be beaten by Tenchi even if he could produce the Light Hawk Wings it still wouldn't be enough to stop him."
Adrien hoisted Ryoko up into his arms and cradling her snuck his way out the door.
It didn't take long before Adrien stopped looked at Ryoko and said, "This time I'm getting away with you."
Ryoko was perplexed at the comment but smiled back at him, as the two were teleported to his ship.
Meanwhile…
'Oh good Ryoko and Adrien managed to get by unnoticed.' Tenchi thought as he noticed Ryoko and Adrien were gone.
"This will be the end of the road for you boy! No one dares to take away what is mine and gets away with it!" Kagato yelled as he charged Tenchi, a blue aura surrounding him and what appeared to be wings forming around him as well.
"I don't think so." Tenchi said as he pulled out Washu's dimensional travel door and threw it in the air.
"YOU WON'T GET AWAY!!!!"
By the time Kagato reached where Tenchi was he was gone.
"DAMN IT! HE ALUDED ME! At least I still have Ryoko." Kagato said as he turned around to see an empty bed.
"WHAT! NO!!!!! RYOKO! YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY FROM ME! I WILL HAVE YOU! YOU BELONG TO ME! ME AND NO ONE ELSE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND! RYOKOOOOO!!!!! WE ARE TOGETHER UNTIL DEATH DO US PART!!!!!!!"
****
Aboard Adrien's ship…
"We have to get you medical attention right away Ryoko, where to?"
"Back…to earth…Tenchi…" Ryoko barely managed to say, she was very weak from the loss of blood. Ryoko passed out in his arms.
'Ryoko…'Adrien thought to himself while looking down at Ryoko. 'You haven't changed. You are still the same strong woman from so long ago. And I still love you, but your heart belongs to another.' Adrien thought grinding his teeth.
'How could Tokimi do this to you…to me…now I know why she kept my past from me…she had been planning this all along. Now she will probably use my friendship with you to her advantage when I must face Tenchi. The person you care for the most has to fight the person you used to care about the most or rather your now close friend. Knowing you, you won't like it. You'll try to stop us both. But I can't let you interfere. Tokimi has promised me great things if I defeat the boy. But how can I kill someone that means so much to you? Damn it, why does this have to be so hard!'
'It doesn't have to be.' Said a voice in Adrien's head.
'Tokimi?' questioned Adrien.
'Yes, Z it is I. You know Z, I only kept your memories from you to keep you from the pain you are feeling now. You are my chosen champion; I have to look out for you. But I can see that regardless of my attempt to protect you from this pain you managed to bring it upon yourself. Z, are you really going to let Ryoko get in the way of all the power I can give you? I see you want something other than power; you want love. So in a way I'm doing you a favor. Once you have killed Tenchi you can have Ryoko all to yourself. With Tenchi out of the way she will surly fall in love with you, especially if she figures out who you are. She used to love you remember. Let's make a deal Z; I let Ryoko live if you kill Tenchi. After you've killed him you can tell Ryoko that I made you do it so she can't possibly hate you for it. Also you'll get to comfort Ryoko in her time of need. She'll be yours in no time. What do you say?"
'I don't know my Lady, I'll have to think about it…'
'Well, don't take too long or else you know what will happen.'
'Yes, my lady.'
Adrien looked down at Ryoko's sleeping form as they sped towards earth…
'I could have Ryoko all to myself. I could have Ryoko's love if I killed that boy, Tenchi. But that would hurt Ryoko…my love for her would heal her wounds…she's already suffered so much already…so what's one more thing…oh Ryoko what is my love for you going to make me do…if only I didn't fall in love with you that day…long ago…the girl with the golden eyes…the golden heart…I've wanted to gain your love ever since that day…'
Adrien's ship landed outside of the Masaki house as everyone inside ran out to help Adrien get Ryoko to Washu's lab. At this point Ryoko was a bloody mess and Ayeka had to cover Sasami's eyes with her hands.
Tenchi was at Ryoko's side almost at once. He held her hand as Adrien carried her into the lab. Once she was set down on the table Tenchi continued to hold Ryoko's hand while Adrien could do nothing but watch. His heart was breaking on the inside.
'Ryoko…I would value your love more than all the power that Tokimi could ever give me…if only you felt the same way…why did you have to go and fall in love with this boy instead of staying in love with me, true love is supposed to be forever. If you loved me once, couldn't you fall in love with me again? But now after what just happened would you even give me a chance to prove my love to you. I would never have tried to force myself on Ryoko like Kagato did, one kiss from Ryoko would last me a life time, I would have waited for her to be ready…damn that Kagato…' Adrien thought as he watched Tenchi looking over Ryoko.
'Oh God Ryoko…if I hadn't gotten there when I did that bastard Kagato would have…would have... I wonder if he had raped her before? That would explain her need to offer her body to me all the time, in the hopes that she would please me somehow. Maybe I should just ask Ryoko instead of assuming things. I mean Ryoko was about to…because she thought Kagato was really the Shadow Bounty Hunter…so maybe she normally wouldn't have been in that kind of situation with Kagato.' Tenchi thought looking at the uneasy expression that was on Ryoko's face. Tenchi wondered if she was dreaming again. He wanted to wake her up, but she needed to rest. Tenchi then noticed that Adrien was looking at Ryoko with a concerned look; he had also noticed her facial expression.
'Ryoko's friend Adrien, I nearly forgot that he is really the Shadow Bounty Hunter. I wonder why he doesn't want Ryoko to know who he really is? I suppose after what just happened now wouldn't be the best time for that confession, but still. I wonder if he is still in love with Ryoko? Apparently the two had both been in love with each other sometime in the past. If he still loves her now…Ryoko may decide to leave again…I can't let that happen…I have to tell Ryoko how I feel about her before it's too late…before I lose her again…I can't let something like this ever happen again! I'm going to tell Ryoko I love her! And I'm going to tell her now!' Tenchi thought as he held Ryoko's hand.
"Hey Ryoko, wake up Ryoko!" Tenchi said as gripped Ryoko's shoulders and tried to shake her awake. He wanted to wake her up and tell her that he loved her before he missed his chance. Adrien was about to stop Tenchi when a voice rang out behind them.
"Hey what do you think you are doing? Stop shaking Ryoko like that; she's lost enough blood already. Move aside I have the blood she needs and I have to hook Ryoko up to this blood-transfusion mechanism before she dies of lose of blood! I want you two guys out of here now! I suggest you go to bed Tenchi and get some rest, it's been a long day. You can talk to Ryoko in the morning if she's fully conscious then." Washu said as she ushered Tenchi out the door.
Tenchi obliged and left. Tenchi failed to notice that someone had stayed behind.
"Hey what are you still doing here?" Washu asked when she noticed Adrien's presence.
"I'm not leaving her here alone with you, not after what you did to her the last time. This is partly your fault, you know." Adrien responded glaring at Washu.
"How…how do you know about that?"
"What does that matter, what matters is that I'm staying."
"Fine." Washu grumbled as she hooked Ryoko up to the blood transfusion device.
"How do you plan to undo what you've done Washu?" asked Adrien.
"I really don't know. I've been trying to come up with a way ever since the incident but I haven't figured out what to do yet."
Washu finished hooking Ryoko up to the blood-transfusion device and began bandaging her wounds. When she had finished she then turned to Adrien. Then Washu draped a blanket over Ryoko's exposed body.
"I'm going to go get some sleep, it's been a long day. I'm guessing that you want to stay here and look over Ryoko?"
"Yes, but why would you trust me with her?"
"For the same reason you wouldn't trust me with her, I know what you're like."
"Hmmm makes sense."
"Goodnight then"
"Night."
Adrien brought a chair up by Ryoko's bedside and sat down planning to look over her all night if he had to. However, due to the day's events he slowly drifted off to sleep.
At that moment someone decided to enter the lab and made their way over to Ryoko…
The hum of Sword Tenchi being activated could have been heard if there had been anyone awake to hear it…
The figure went over to Ryoko and ran the sword through Ryoko's stomach leaving it there to finish her off.
Sword Tenchi sent waves of electricity into Ryoko causing her body to jolt violently as Ryoko's eyes flung open and she sat up. She was in too much torture and to scream, but her mouth hung open in a silent one…the wound that Sword Tenchi had created began to bleed profusely…as Ryoko gaped in confusion and shock at who had done this to her…
"Uh…uh…. uh…" Ryoko tried to speak to her assailant but the only thing that came out of her mouth was blood.
End of Chapter 6:
Who just stabbed Ryoko with Sword Tenchi!?
Why is Ryoko so shocked by who it was!? (Even you may be surprised "Thunder god")
Will Adrien wake up and save her?
Will Adrien accept Tokimi's offer?
Find out in the next exciting Chapter of Power of a Goddess!!!!
Don't for get to review!!!!
After this story is complete I was thinking of writing a Tenchi-Muyo version of the "Fifth Element" what do you all think of that idea?! Would want to read it?