Disclaimer: Tenchi-Muyo is owned by Pioneer and AIC.
Chapter 12:
TENCHI!" Ryoko cried as Tenchi and the ship disappeared into the wormhole from which the ship had come. "NO TENCHI! COME BACK!" Ryoko yelled, but it was no use. Tenchi was gone. Tenchi still hadn't given Ryoko her gems back so she couldn't even try to fly after him. Of course it wasn't really Tenchi's fault, Ryoko hadn't asked him for her gems yet.
"No Tenchi…" Ryoko said as she collapsed to the ground. 'I have to get him back. I just have to. Tenchi I will come for you.' She said while beating her fists into the ground, and then stood up starring at the sky shouting, "I WILL COME FOR YOU!"
Ryoko brushed herself off and made her way back to the Masaki house. She went directly to Washu's lab. If anyone could find out where Tenchi had been taken Washu could.
"Mom? Mom are you here?"
"What is it little Ryoko" Washu asked coming from out of the shadows.
"Mom, Tenchi…he's"
"Been taken. I know."
****
Adrien grasped his head in pain as a thousand swirling images filled his head all at once. He was beginning to remember…to remember everything.
Adrien slowly opened his eyes and looked at Sasami.
"Thank you"
Sasami just smiled sweetly back at him, although she couldn't help but feel sad…
Back in Washu's lab…
"What do you mean you can't find him!" Ryoko demanded.
"Calm down, Ryoko, I've used every method I can think of to track Tenchi but nothing seems to be working. I still can't manage to pinpoint his location. He must be in another galaxy or maybe even another dimension."
"What! You mean Tenchi might be in another dimension and there is nothing I can do!"
"Hmmm well there might be one thing"
"What?"
"Pray"
Ryoko fell over.
****
"So what do you remember? Do you understand things now?" Sasami asked Adrien.
"I think I do understand. I must go to her."
Sasami sighed, "Yes, go to her."
Adrien left Sasami alone to see why Ryoko had gone so suddenly to Washu's lab. She looked distressed. 'I hope nothing's wrong.'
Adrien entered the lab to see a sobbing Ryoko being comforted by Washu.
"Tenchi, why Mom? Why? Will he always be taken from me? Will we never be together? Maybe it's not meant to be."
Before Washu could respond to Ryoko's statement Adrien called out to Ryoko.
"Ryoko…"
Ryoko turned her tear-stained face to see Adrien. A glimmer of hope shown in her eyes upon seeing Adrien, and she let go of Washu and ran to him.
"Oh Adrien!" Ryoko sobbed as she clutched at his shirt and buried her face in his chest. Soon warm, strong, arms encircled her, making her feel safe.
"It's ok Ryoko. It'll all be ok"
"No it won't" sobbed Ryoko "Tenchi's been taken away…and there's nothing I can do. Washu…can't find him"
"Tenchi has been taken away? By whom?"
"I don't know. They didn't show themselves. A beam came out of this ship and took Tenchi away."
"I see. Don't worry Ryoko I'm sure we'll find a way to get him back. Just give Washu more time-"
"I'm sick of giving Washu more time. She can't do everything you know. She can't even cure me from my virus, what makes you think she'll find Tenchi."
Washu was hurt by Ryoko's words.
"Ryoko I'm sorry, I'll try harder." Washu pleaded.
"Yes, Ryoko, have trust in your mother."
"Some mother" Ryoko mumbled.
Washu pretended she hadn't heard her, "Why don't you two come back later. Maybe then I'll have some answers."
Adrien and Ryoko left the lab together. Ryoko went over and sat down on the couch, Adrien coming and sitting next to her. He put an arm around her in a comforting way, Ryoko smiled back at him.
"We'll have to tell the other's you know" Ryoko began. "They'll be worried when he doesn't show up for dinner."
"I think you should wait until then, you never know, maybe a miracle will happen and he'll come back before dinner"
"Unlikely, but then again you've always had hope."
Adrien smiled at this comment. 'And now I must have hope that my love for you is true and that Tenchi's is not. I hold nothing against Tenchi but is he really the one meant to be with Ryoko? My heart tells me otherwise. I feel…I know my love for her is true, it just has to be. So if my love is true then how can Tenchi's be true also? I'm glad I remember…now I know why she stirred these emotions in me. Now I know why I couldn't leave her and go into space. I love her. I always have. I always will.'
A few hours later…
Everyone was seated for dinner except for Tenchi. Washu still hadn't come out of her lab for any news about Tenchi, and Ryoko didn't want to go see Washu.
"Where's Tenchi?" Sasami asked looking around the table.
"The last I saw of him was when he went to talk to Ryoko" Ayeka said eyeing Ryoko suspiciously.
Ryoko looked around the table apprehensively, she knew she had to tell them about Tenchi's abduction but it was hard for her to accept also.
"I…I have something I have to tell all of you" Ryoko began.
"What is it that you have to tell everyone Ryoko?" came a voice.
Everyone turned to see Tenchi. Ryoko looked at him in shock.
"Tenchi? You're back?"
"What do you mean Ryoko? I never left."
"Well I uh…" Ryoko looked over at Adrien to see his reaction to this news, but he just shrugged his shoulders. "But Tenchi you were taken away…"
Tenchi started laughing, "Ryoko you must have fallen asleep and had a bad dream"
Ryoko just starred at Tenchi, he couldn't be serious. Maybe she did fall asleep and dream that someone had taken Tenchi away…it did seem like something she would have dreamt about. But it was so real…
Just then the door to Washu's lab swung open, "Ryoko!" Washu called over to Ryoko. She looked over and saw Tenchi, but didn't look surprised that he was there. "I need to talk to you Ryoko, now"
Ryoko stood up from the table and went over to Washu.
"Hey, Ms. Washu nothing's wrong with Ryoko is there" asked Tenchi.
"No, I just need to talk to her for a moment. Excuse us."
Everyone continued dinner, now that Tenchi was with him. Everything seemed back to normal except for Adrien occasionally casting a glance to the door of Washu's lab.
Inside Washu's lab…
"What is it Washu? Is it about Tenchi? He just came back and doesn't remember being taken away!"
"Hmmm, well I was searching for Tenchi when my sensors detected a high level dimensional disturbance over by the Masaki shrine. Then all of a sudden Tenchi reappeared on my view screen. He's back now, but you said he doesn't remember ever leaving. Strange…"
"Strange is an understatement. What do you think happened to Tenchi?"
"For all we know that might not be the real Tenchi"
"What?!"
"Well, he was taken away and suddenly returns with no recollection of having left. Seems a little fishy to me, but we better keep this information to ourselves."
"Whatever you say."
****
Ryoko returned and took her place at the dinner table. She continued to cast strange searching looks at Tenchi, until Adrien asked her if something was wrong. She shrugged it off as having had too much Sake. But what Washu had told her was still bothering her…
"Ms. Ayeka would you like to go on a walk with me?" Tenchi asked turning to Ayeka.
Ayeka blushed before responding, "Of course Lord Tenchi."
The two of them left, not before Ayeka gave a haughty look to Ryoko though.
"What was that all about?" Adrien asked turning to Ryoko.
"I don't know…" 'He has to be a clone or something.' Ryoko thought to herself, but she knew that was farfetched. Was she really worried about Tenchi going on a walk with Ayeka. Was it so hard to believe that Tenchi would want to spend time alone with the princess. She was beautiful and unlike her she could actually touch him. The last time she had caught them together they had been talking about her. She wondered if they were going to do the same thing again. She was about to follow them when Adrien grabbed her arm.
"Hey Ryoko, since those two went on a walk why don't we go on one ourselves."
There was no way Ryoko could refuse such a kind offer so decided to go with Adrien on a walk, although her thoughts lingered on what Ayeka and Tenchi might be talking about.
Adrien and Ryoko walked by the shrine while Tenchi and Ayeka took their stroll by the lake.
"So, are you doing alright" Adrien asked Ryoko while clasping her hand in his.
Ryoko noticed that Adrien was being a lot more open with his feelings towards her recently, but dismissed it as being because he was just trying to be a good friend. Adrien still hadn't told Ryoko that he had regained his memory…
"Well, I suppose. It's just that I've been on an emotional roller coaster lately. One minute I'm happy and next I'm upset. I was finally beginning to believe what Tenchi told me…and then he was taken away. I just couldn't bear it. He has been taken away from me in a sense already because of Tokimi's virus, but to then be physically taken away. It was just too much to handle all in one day. And then all of a sudden he makes this strange reappearance. I don't know what to think."
"I see, what was it that he told you that you think you were finally believing?"
"Oh," Ryoko said blushing, "Well, he said he loves me"
"He told you that?"
"Yes, it's been so long…waiting…but now…I finally know."
Adrien stood there shocked by her words. 'So he finally admitted that he loves her. I wonder if she would be telling me this if she knew that I remember that I love her. She probably wouldn't, knowing that would hurt my feelings. That boy has more guts than I thought. I wonder if it's too late for me to gain her love.'
"Ryoko I'm happy for you…" Adrien trailed off. He was honestly happy for her, but sad that he wasn't the one that had Ryoko's love.
"You are?"
"Yes, all I want is for you to be happy Ryoko. And if Tenchi loving you makes you happy then-"
"But we may never be together," Ryoko said cutting Adrien off, "He may never be able to touch me again. For all we know Washu may never be able to find a cure for this Virus. How can we love each other if we can't even…told hands." Ryoko said as tears began to stream down her face.
'She looks so beautiful with tears in her eyes, and yet she's even more beautiful with a smile. I haven't seen her smile in so long.' "Cheer up Ryoko. You've won Tenchi's love!"
Ryoko couldn't help but smile at Adrien's remark.
"That's all that should matter for now! You've beaten that prissy princess!"
'The princess…' Ryoko thought as she remembered why she had gone on this walk with Adrien. 'I wonder what Ayeka and Tenchi are up to…' "Have I? How can you be so sure? I mean he just went off with that prissy princess just now-"
"They just went on a walk Ryoko"
"I know but-"
"No buts, if Tenchi says he loves you then he does. You need to have faith in the power of your love."
"The power of my love?"
"Yes,"
'Where have I heard that one before? I suppose Adrien is right what could Tenchi be doing with that princess anyways.'
Meanwhile…
"So Tenchi have you finally come to your senses? Have you finally decided to come back to me?" Ayeka asked Tenchi.
"Ayeka…"
"Oh, come on Tenchi. You don't expect me to believe that you plan to stay with that monster woman, now that you two can't even touch! How do you plan to express your feeling towards her. Tenchi, you're a man, and men have needs. If you stay with Ryoko you will never be truly happy, but if you admit that you love me then…I'll make you the happiest man alive!" Ayeka said with a wink.
"Ayeka I didn't come out here to tell you that I've stopped loving Ryoko. I just had this urge to talk with you that's all. I want us to remain friends even though I've chosen Ryoko."
"I see. You need to stop deluding yourself Tenchi! You and that demon aren't meant to be! You and I are destined to be together. Tenchi I love you!"
"Ayeka please."
"I love you Tenchi! Can't you see that! Can't you see that everything I do is because of you!" Ayeka said as she began to cry.
"Ayeka…"
"Tenchi…I…I…please Tenchi say that you love me too."
Tenchi brought Ayeka into his arms and allowed her to cry into his chest. He hadn't meant for Ayeka to be hurt this way. He knew that she hadn't accepted his choice as reality yet and wanted to help her to understand…understand that even though he didn't love her, he cared for her.
"Ayeka, I may not love you in the same way I love Ryoko but that doesn't mean that I don't care for you."
"Tenchi, do you really? Do you really still care for me even after I've been so cold to you and to Ryoko. I've been jealous Tenchi. You always seemed to care so deeply about her and well I wanted you to care for me as well. That's why I always act the way I do when I'm around Ryoko, I'm sorry Tenchi."
"No Ayeka, I'm sorry it had to be this way. But yes, I do care about you. How can I not care for you. Like you said we are connected by blood. I will always see you as part of my family."
"Oh Tenchi" Ayeka said pulling away from him and starring into his eyes. "I knew you cared! I just knew it. Now if only you realized what that means."
"Ayeka I don't understand."
'I'll just have to make him understand.'
And with that Ayeka pulled Tenchi into a kiss, Tenchi wanted to pull away but as hard as he tried he found that he could not. Instead he found himself deepening the kiss, and wrapping his arms around Ayeka. Was it because he lost himself in the moment with the beautiful princess, or was it that he realized that he could never be with Ryoko? Perhaps it was neither…
'Tenchi…how could you?' Ryoko had left Adrien to check up on Tenchi, and found him kissing Ayeka.
The two just stood there continuing to kiss each other as Ryoko watched. Her vision became blurry until she couldn't see anymore. She decided to just phase away…
Tenchi pulled back from Ayeka, "Ayeka?"
"Oh Tenchi I knew you cared! I knew you love me! You love me don't you?!"
"Ayeka I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. It should have never happened. I'm sorry Ayeka but I don't love you."
"But you just…you have to love me"
"I'm sorry Ayeka but I don't"
"I hate you! I hate you!" Ayeka began as she weakly beat her fists on Tenchi's chest. But Tenchi just pulled her hands away from him.
"I have to go and find Ryoko." Tenchi said as he left Ayeka.
'Tenchi…'
****
Ryoko had gone to the cave where she stayed there crying…
Until the next day…
"Has anyone seen Ryoko? I couldn't find her last night? I'm beginning to get worried." Tenchi began at the breakfast table.
"What do you mean you couldn't find her. She went to see you." Adrien countered.
"What? I never saw her…" 'She couldn't have seen me and Ayeka, did she?!' If she did…'
"I'm sure she's around someplace," said Ayeka. "She probably got drunk on Sake and fell asleep somewhere."
"You're probably right," sighed Tenchi.
Meanwhile…
Ryoko was inside the cave looking around the place that had once been her prison. The water shimmered and cast reflections on the cave walls.
'If I can't be with Tenchi…if I can't be with Tenchi…if I was imprisoned again at least I could be near him always'
Ryoko began to lower herself into the pool of water…
Back at the Masaki house…
"I'm going to go and look for her," said Tenchi. 'I have to give Ryoko her gems back…I don't know why she never asked me for them.'
"Me too." Agreed Adrien.
"Good luck you guys!" Sasami called after them as they left.
"I don't see why they're so concerned about her, she can take care of herself." Ayeka said to Sasami.
"Yes, sis, but that doesn't stop them from being worried about her."
"Humph!" Ayeka said as she stalked off to her room.
Tenchi headed off towards the shrine and Adrien didn't know where to begin.
"Mia!"
Adrien looked down to see Ryo-Ohki.
"Hey do you know where Ryoko is?"
"Mia! Mia!" (Yes I do, please hurry)
'That sounded urgent, I hope Ryoko's ok.'
"Take me to her!"
"Mia!"
Ryo-Ohki ran off with Adrien following close behind. They soon came up to the cave.
"What? Is she in there?"
"Mia!"
"Well ok, if you say so."
Adrien made his way into the dark cave, 'I wonder if this was where she had been imprisoned by Yosho…'
He then saw a crack in the cave wall and made his way over to it. He stepped through and found himself slipping, he slid until he came to a dimly lit room. The room wasn't really lit but the pool of water made it seem that way, as it shimmered causing the cave walls to glow eerily. What he saw in the center of the pool made his blood run cold.
There was Ryoko lying face down in the pool with her arms wrapped around her legs…
She was crying silently…
"Ryoko!" Adrien said as he quickly went over to her side. For a moment he thought that she might have been imprisoned again but then realized that would be impossible unless someone from Jurai did it personally. He grabbed onto her arm and pulled Ryoko out of the freezing cold water, she was already beginning to turn blue from the cold.
Shivering Ryoko spoke, "Leave me alone."
"Ryoko what's wrong? What were you trying to do?"
"I wanted to be locked up in the cave again. I know now that I'll never be able to be with Tenchi but I can't live without him either. If I was imprisoned again I could always be near him…"
"Ryoko what happened to make you think that? Did Tenchi say something to you? Did he take back that he loves you?"
"No…I…him and Ayeka…they were…"
"What?" encouraged Adrien placing a hand on Ryoko's cold shoulder.
"They were kissing," Ryoko managed to get out as she tried to pull away from Adrien and re-submerge herself in the water.
"Hey Ryoko stop that!" Adrien said as he pulled Ryoko away from the water, then he noticed that Ryoko's gems were missing. "Ryoko without your gems you might get hypothermia if we don't get you warmed up!"
"I don't care, my heart is broken. Just let me go!" Ryoko said as her body began to shiver violently.
"No Ryoko I won't let you do this to yourself" Adrien roughly pulled Ryoko into his arms and began rubbing his hands up and down her arms to get her blood circulating. "You have to stop doing this to yourself. If he doesn't love you then he's not worth it! But first you must confront him and find out for sure!"
"But I…I just can't"
"Yes you can! You're Ryoko and so you can!"
Ryoko looked up into Adrien's eyes, "You've always been there for me, you know that? You've never pushed me away. Somehow you always manage to give me hope." Ryoko slowly leaned in to give Adrien a kiss and he leaned forward also…
Then Ryoko passed out and collapsed into Adrien's arms right before their lips were about to touch.
Adrien looked down at Ryoko's limp form, 'Oh well'.
Adrien made his way back to the house, carrying Ryoko in his arms.
Tenchi and the others were there waiting.
"Ryoko!" Tenchi said looking at Ryoko's limp, soaking wet, form in Adrien's arms, "What happened to her?!"
"She'll be alright," was all that Adrien said as he gently set Ryoko down on the couch. He wasn't sure whether or not he should be mad at Tenchi. He decided he would hear his side of the story first. Tenchi ran to the bathroom to get a towel for Ryoko and wrapped it around her.
As the warmth returned to her body Ryoko slowly came back into consciousness, the first thing she saw was a pair of icy blue eyes.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't my baby sister" a cold voice said.
"Wake up little Ryoko and meet your brother!" said Washu enthusiastically.
"Brother…?" Ryoko managed to say as her eyes focused on the blonde-haired blue-eyed man before her.
End of chapter 12!
Washu's son?! What's he doing here? How did he come back? What about Washu's long-lost husband? Will Washu get a second chance at being a mother? How will this affect Ryoko?! Oh and Mihoshi and Raiden will be back from their trip in the next chapter it seems. And Chapter 1 has a new opening scene, so for all of you who've been reading this fic I think you'll like it!!!!
Don't forget to Read and Review! And how come no one told me it's "Ryo-ohki" not "Ryo-oki"?! Sophia sweet drops. "Opps!"