Ryoko found herself in a beautiful meadow. The flowers were in bloom and the birds were singing. The trees surrounding the meadow were cherry blossoms. The blossoms were falling through the air as their sent wafted in the breeze. Ryoko enjoyed walking in this dreamy place…
Ryoko walked a little ways until she saw a figure that had its back to her.
"Tenchi?" Ryoko called.
The figure turned around and Ryoko gasped at what she saw. The figure was the body of a normal man except for the fact that the man's face was non-existent, hidden in shadows.
"I am your true love Ryoko. You tell me who I am."
"Tenchi?…" And after a pause, "Adrien?…"
"Until you know who your true love is, I have no face. Until you know in your heart who I am, you are hurting those close to you. Now tell me, do you know for sure who you love?"
'I love Tenchi…don't I? But now we may never get to be together…I could easily find happiness with Adrien. Adrien is so sweet and kind and he's always been there for me. Adrien saved me when all hope was lost. Adrien was my knight in shinning armor on more than one occasion. Adrien…who stopped me from killing myself. But the question remains…do I really want to live when my reason for living is out of my reach?
Tenchi…he gave me a reason to want to keep on living when I was trapped in the cave. I hoped that one day we would be together…that he would love me. And now that seems so impossible, everything seems to be against my happiness. Or can I have happiness some other way…should my reason to live be to live for myself? To make me happy? And what if what makes me happy is being with Adrien? I'm so confused…I wish there was an easy way out…maybe there is an easy way out…'
"I don't know who I love anymore." Ryoko said ashamed while looking at the ground.
"I see. At least you have admitted this to yourself Ryoko. But you must also realize that true love will find a way no matter how hopeless the situation seems. You must remember to have faith in the power of your love."
"Have faith in the power of my love?"
"Yes."
"But why can't you just tell me who you are! Please, just tell me!"
"I can't do that Ryoko…until you know in your heart who you love…I am face-less, I have no true identity…you will know who I am, when I know who I am…"
"I don't understand, how could you not know who you are?"
"Maybe I, that am your true love, have not really admitted to the fact that I love you. This would in turn make it difficult for you to know who your true love was, as well. When the time is right…we will both know each other…"
"You're saying that my true love might not even now that he loves me yet? But wouldn't that mean that you're Adrien? Adrien, who doesn't remember that he loves me?"
"I can't answer that Ryoko. I must go now. Listen to your heart. The answer will come to you in time. But I give you this warning. Do not hurt those you love by being selfish with your love. You don't have to choose one or the other right away. To assume you know already is to assume too much. Be kind to those who have been kind to you Ryoko, they are the ones you can trust."
"Please wait! Don't go! There is so much I still want to ask you!" Ryoko yelled as the shadowy figure departed. "No, please." Ryoko pleaded as she ran after the figure. "I need to know who you are! I need to know."
End of Dream.
Ryoko awoke from her dream…
She had fallen asleep on the couch after she had shared Adrien's chocolates with Sasami. A disturbing thought came to Ryoko…
'That dream…that was the same one I had after I defeated Kagato. But what does it mean? When I first dreamt it I assumed the figure was Tenchi. I had been sure it was he. But now…I'm not so sure anymore. What if that shadowy figure, my true love, is Adrien? What then? Do I even deserve to have a true love? Do I really even have one? What gives me the right to think that either of them loves me? I'm not worthy of their love.'
Just then the door to Washu's lab swung open…
"Ryoko!" Tenchi called as he saw her lying on the couch. He ran over to her. "Ryoko, there's something I need to tell you!"
"Tenchi? You're ok!?"
"Of course I'm ok. I mean we still can't touch, but I'm ok."
"I see." Ryoko said looking disappointed. For a brief second she thought that maybe she could have her Tenchi…her love. But maybe it wasn't him she wanted after all.
"Ryoko, I…I remember."
"Remember what Tenchi?"
"You."
Ryoko looked at Tenchi in surprise. Did he really remember her? Did he really remember all the times they spent together by the cave…the time she comforted him…
"Tenchi…"
"There's more Ryoko. I wanted to say that I…well I…I love you Ryoko."
"You love me?" Ryoko looked at him in shock mixed with surprise. Had Tenchi just declared his love for her? Ryoko was so happy she wanted to yell for joy! She got up and was about to give Tenchi a hug when she remembered…
"Tenchi I…I can't even hug you…and you've just declared your love for me."
Tenchi looked sadly at Ryoko. This wasn't the response he had wanted. "Ryoko I was hoping that…you would say something."
"What Tenchi? That I love you? I've loved you so long, expressed that I've loved you so long and now you want reassurance? Who are you reassuring?"
"Ryoko…that's not what I meant. I…"
"Tenchi I just can't deal with this right now. I'll catch you later."
And with that Ryoko phased out.
"Ryoko…" Tenchi said solemnly looking at the spot where she had just been standing. 'Did I say something wrong?'
****
On a branch in a cherry blossom tree…
Ryoko was lying back crying…
'Why? Why didn't I just tell Tenchi that I love him? I…I don't deserve to be loved. I'm just a defective experiment…waste product…a demon…I don't deserve to have such an emotion as love…all those lives I took while under Kagato's control…all those people that were in love…I took their lives. I deserve to die. But I promised Adrien I wouldn't try to kill myself…'
"Ryoko?" a voice called.
Ryoko looked down to see Adrien. Ryoko wiped her tears away, "Oh Adrien it's you."
"Are you ok Ryoko? Something didn't happen did it? Did you find out if Tenchi is going to be ok?"
"Yes he's going to be ok. But Washu still wasn't able to find a cure for him though" Ryoko sighed sadly.
"That's too bad"
"I just don't know what to do…" Ryoko began, "It seems like everything is against me and Tenchi ever being together."
"Ryoko…you shouldn't lose hope. At least Tenchi is ok now, just because the two of you can't touch doesn't mean you can't spend time with each other."
"I don't know…"
"Oh come on Ryoko. If you push Tenchi away like this you're going to lose him."
"I guess you're right."
"I'm glad you see my point. Don't worry Ryoko I'm sure Washu will find a cure and then you and Tenchi can be together"
"But Adrien…" Ryoko began looking sadly at Adrien. Even though Adrien didn't have his memory back she still didn't want to hurt him.
Adrien sensed this, "Don't worry about me Ryoko, I'm happy for you."
"Oh Adrien, thank you so much. You've always been there for me when I needed you, for advice, for comfort, for companionship…what would I do without you? Sometimes I think you're my guardian angel or something"
"Hehehe" Adrien laughed while putting a hand behind his head, "Well what are friends for?"
After her conversation with Adrien Ryoko finally felt strong enough to go and see Tenchi. Ryoko entered the Masaki household to see that everyone was seated at Breakfast.
"Oh Ryoko you're back" said Tenchi happily.
"Yeah," Ryoko said giving him a small smile and taking a seat next to Tenchi.
Breakfast went by pretty uneventful, but afterwards Ryoko told Tenchi she needed to tell him something. Ryoko walked Tenchi part way to the fields before she got the courage to say what she needed to.
"Tenchi, I've decided to give us more of a chance. I need to stop running away from my problems. I think that together we can get through this."
Tenchi was very happy to hear Ryoko say this, "That's great Ryoko. Why don't we spend some time together alone tonight. I could cook you dinner, how about it?"
"That sounds nice Tenchi" Ryoko said smiling and she phased away.
***
Tenchi got back from the fields around 6:00 and decided to take a quick soak in the onsen before starting dinner for Ryoko. Tenchi had told Sasami about his plans for him and Ryoko to have a romantic evening alone and so Sasami had made everyone an early dinner. Tenchi got started on a special sauce for the main dish…
Soon Tenchi heard a "Woosh" sound and knew that Ryoko had phased next to him.
"Hey Ryoko" Tenchi said turning to Ryoko and smiling while continuing to stir his special sauce.
"Hey Tenchi, need some help?"
"Just set the table ok, dinner should be ready any second now"
"Ok" Ryoko said as she got the plates and silverware on the table. The sauce smelled so good Ryoko couldn't wait to taste it.
Tenchi decided to start making the rice, so left his sauce to continue cooking. Ryoko walked over to it and took the spoon out of the sauce and decided to taste it.
"Mmmm Tenchi this is sooo good" Ryoko said putting the spoon into her mouth.
"You really think so? Grandpa showed me how to make it, it's an old family recipe." Tenchi said smiling at Ryoko, he was glad that everything was going smoothly. After Ryoko had finished tasting the sauce she put the spoon back into the sauce. Tenchi noticed this out of the corner of his eye and then turned to Ryoko with a worried expression.
"Ryoko…"
"What Tenchi?"
"The spoon…you put it back into the sauce…"
Ryoko looked at the spoon she had used to taste Tenchi's special sauce and then back at Tenchi. She had nearly forgotten that the Virus could be transmitted by saliva. Then Ryoko got upset over her blunder.
"I can't believe I just did that!" Ryoko exclaimed taking the sauce and emptying it into the sink. "It's ruined now"
"Don't worry about it Ryoko it wasn't your fault" Tenchi said trying to console Ryoko but it wasn't working.
"Why does this have to be so hard!"
"Ryoko…"
"I'm sorry Tenchi but…I have to go" and with that said Ryoko phased away.
"Ryoko…"
***
Ryoko decided to take a walk by the lake to calm her nerves. She then noticed that someone else was walking by the lake also. She couldn't quite tell who it was at first because it was so dark out but as her cat eyes adjusted she saw that it was Adrien.
"Adrien?" Ryoko called.
Adrien made a motion with his hands over his face and then turned to face Ryoko.
"Oh hey Ryoko what's up? I thought you were supposed to be having a romantic dinner with Tenchi?"
"That didn't go so well," Ryoko began sadly, "Tenchi was making a special sauce when I decided to taste it. Then I accidentally put the spoon I had tasted the sauce with back into the sauce. The Virus can be transmitted by saliva and so I ruined the sauce for Tenchi…I ruined everything."
"Ryoko…" Adrien said while walking closer to Ryoko. And then he did what he felt was the right thing to do. He brought Ryoko into his arms in a tender embrace and stroked her hair. "Shhhhh, it's ok Ryoko…it wasn't your fault. It's Tokimi's fault remember."
"But I…if I didn't put the spoon back…I was being careless…what if I'm careless again?!"
"Ryoko, this is just something that is going to take some getting used to. You'll see it will get easier with time."
"You really think so?"
"I know so"
The two just stood there by the lake in their embrace, Adrien continuing to stroke Ryoko's hair in a soothing way. From the window of the Masaki house Tenchi had been watching the whole thing…
"Tenchi?"
Tenchi turned around to see Ayeka.
"Oh hey Ayeka what are you doing up?"
"I couldn't sleep…so how was dinner with Ryoko."
"It didn't go so well to tell you the truth…" Tenchi said looking down at the ground in a defeated sort of way.
"Tenchi…" The two just stood by each other, giving each other company until they finally both fell asleep on the living room couch.
***
The next day baby Taro was brought by for a visit. Everyone was happy to see baby Taro again especially Washu. The day consisted of the girls taking care of baby Taro by feeding and changing his diaper periodically. Even Ryoko was beginning to get the hang of taking care of baby Taro. At the end of the day Tenchi and Ryoko were the only two people left awake to take care of baby Taro. Ryoko had Taro in a loving embrace while she feed him his bottle. Tenchi smiled seeing Ryoko act this way.
Ryoko yawned saying, "Mmm Tenchi do you think you could change Taro's diaper I'm kind of half asleep"
"Sure thing Ryoko" Tenchi said taking baby Taro from Ryoko's arms.
The next day…
Taro's grandmother came to pick up baby Taro and they all went outside to say goodbye.
"Tenchi you look a little pale," began Ryoko.
"I'm ok Ryoko, I just had to stay up really late taking care of baby Taro after you fell asleep, that's all"
"Oh"
But as Tenchi was walking back towards the house he just collapsed.
"Tenchi!" Ryoko exclaimed going to his side. "Oh Tenchi, what's wrong?"
"Stay away from him!" yelled Ayeka pushing Ryoko away from Tenchi, "Don't touch him! Remember what will happen if you do!" she warned.
"Oh Tenchi…" Ryoko said looking at Tenchi's fallen form. Then Ryoko remembered how she was so tired last night and how she had handed baby Taro to Tenchi…she couldn't quite remember…had she accidentally touched Tenchi? "Oh no! we better get Tenchi to Washu's lab I think I may have accidentally touched Tenchi when I handed him baby Taro last night"
"I knew this had to be your fault" said Ayeka giving Ryoko an evil glare. She then called to her guardians to pick up Tenchi's fallen form and had him taken back to the house.
Ryoko was made to stay outside while Ayeka and Tenchi went into the lab.
"Oh Tenchi…what have I done" Ryoko sadly asked to herself.
Just then a knock at the door was heard.
"I'll get it" said Sasami as she ran over to the door. She opened it and there was Adrien. "Oh Adrien, hi! Where have you been lately?"
"Oh just cruising around in space but pretty much keeping to this solar system in case you guys needed anything."
Then Adrien noticed Ryoko on the couch, "Oh hey Ryoko, how it going?"
Ryoko turned to face Adrien with a sad look on her face.
"What's wrong Ryoko?" Adrien asked coming and taking a seat next to her.
Ryoko relayed everything that had happened.
"So you think you may have accidentally touched Tenchi last night…hmmm"
"I just knew something like this would happen! I just can't be near him anymore without hurting him"
Adrien put a comforting hand on Ryoko's shoulder, "Don't worry about it Ryoko. Washu was able to cure him before I'm sure he'll be alright"
"I hope so" Ryoko said as she leaned into Adrien, enjoying how his closeness made her feel warm and safe.
***
A few hours later Washu exited the lab to find Ryoko asleep on Adrien's lap, while he was asleep also.
"Ryoko…" Washu said softly as she shook Ryoko's shoulder to wake her.
"Mmmm what is it" Ryoko mumbled.
"Wake up little Ryoko I have some good news."
Ryoko shot up hearing that, "News about Tenchi?"
"Yep, you didn't infect Tenchi after all. He had the flu!"
"The flu?" Ryoko questioned in disbelief.
"Yes, so you see you were worried for nothing."
"Thank goodness," Ryoko said and then prodding Adrien, "Hey Adrien wake up, I have some good news."
"Mmmm what is it Ryoko?" Adrien said opening his eyes and seeing Ryoko's golden ones. 'I could get used to waking up to this…' Adrien thought sleepily.
"It's Tenchi, it turns out I didn't infect him after all"
Adrien smiled hearing the good news, "That's great! Why don't you go see him."
"I don't know…I think I'm going to take a walk to think about things" Ryoko said getting up from her spot on the couch.
"But Ryoko…"
"Don't worry Adrien I'll be ok" Ryoko said while pressing Adrien's hand in a comforting way to ease his worry.
Ryoko then went outside for her walk…
Meanwhile in Washu's lab…
"Oh Tenchi…I'm so glad you're all right" Ayeka said while holding Tenchi's hand and looking down upon his face.
"Me too Ms. Ayeka. Do you know where Ryoko is?"
Ayeka looked hurt by his question but answered nevertheless, "She's in the living room, Washu is giving her the good news now"
"Good" Tenchi sighed with relief. "I don't want her to worry"
"Tenchi…what are you going to do if Washu never finds a cure?…"
Tenchi was startled by Ayeka question, "Well Ayeka I really don't know."
"I see…do you think that maybe you may fall in love with someone else. Someone you could actually be with?"
"It's possible"
"Oh" Ayeka said smiling to herself.
"Thanks for staying with me like this…" Tenchi said while pressing Ayeka's hand that was in his.
"It's nothing Lord Tenchi" Ayeka said while smiling sweetly down at him.
***
Meanwhile Ryoko was walking along the lake thinking…
'I just need some time alone to think…Adrien has been so kind to me lately I really should try to be nicer to him. It's just that I'm on the edge with this whole Virus thing…it makes everything so difficult. What if Washu will never be able to find a cure…what if I'm stuck like this forever…I suppose Tenchi will fall in love with someone else…someone he can actually touch…caress…
Tenchi…I love you don't I? It seems that lately I'm not so sure how I feel. And Adrien…he's always been there for me, always…he's so sweet and kind…he's never pushed me away like Tenchi did…I loved him…maybe I still do. I'm so confused but I can't ignore these emotions that I'm beginning to feel for Adrien again. It seems with all the time I'm getting to spend with him those old emotions I had for him are resurfacing…
But I don't want to hurt him…he still doesn't remember me and maybe that's for the best. If he did remember…and I chose Tenchi…he would be hurt. I need to sort out my emotions before I hurt someone. Oh Adrien…why did Kagato have to come between us like he did? What if you had managed to save me…and I had gotten the chance to spend my life with you instead of with Kagato and my time in the cave…I would have loved to spend my life with you…'
Then Ryoko felt a presence, "What do you want?"
A tall man with blonde hair and striking blue eyes materialized in front of Ryoko.
"Ah, Ryoko long time no see…"
"Who the hell are you?!" Ryoko demanded.
"Where are you manners Ryoko. That's no way to treat your long lost brother…"
"Brother…you mean Washu's son, Mikomo?"
"That's right"
"Well what do you want with me? Why not go and see Washu?"
"That's just it Ryoko…you're in the way. I want mother all to myself, I'm not going to share her with anyone, least of all you…"
Then a wormhole opened up and out came a red and black ship, there were black spikes along the outer rim. A beam shot out of the ship engulfing Ryoko in an eerie blue light. Ryoko tried to move but found that she could not.
"Ah let me go! Release me! How are you doing this?" Ryoko questioned.
"Hahahahaha I must admit you are very powerful but are not match for my genius! Would you believe I used to be a student of Kagato's? I came across him in my search for my mother. You probably don't remember me…glasses…bad skin…"
"That was you?"
"Well I'm surprised you remember me. Anyways Ryoko, Kagato showed me how he made a different more powerful version of your gems and mounted them on the Souja. I have made my own version of those gems…"
"Let me go! I don't want to hear about it."
Mikomo gave Ryoko a disgusted look. "You really are a defective experiment, you can't even manage to hold a conversation. No matter, once I'm rid of you mother will be all mine!" Mikomo said as Ryoko began to rise off the ground. Ryoko continued to struggle but it was not use. She couldn't get away.
Then Ryoko decided to call for help to the one person who had never let her down, "Adrien! Help me please! Adrien!"
Meanwhile back at the Masaki house…
"What the?" Adrien asked from his spot on the couch where he was watching TV. "Did someone call my name?"
"What's the matter Adrien?" asked Sasami who was making lunch on the stove.
"I thought I heard something…I'm going to go see if Ryoko is ok" Adrien said getting up from his spot on the couch.
"Tell Ryoko lunch is almost ready when you find her"
"Right c-ya Sasami, and thanks Sasami" Adrien said giving Sasami a wink.
Adrien made his way out the door and began to run in the direction he felt Ryoko's presence. He then noticed a gigantic ship that was positioned half way out of a wormhole.
"What the?" Then Adrien noticed the struggling form of Ryoko in a transport beam. "Ah! Ryoko!" Adrien said running to Ryoko. Then Adrien noticed Mikomo, "Hey you! Who the hell are you! Give Ryoko back! Let her go!"
"It's no use boy…she's mine" said Mikomo as he disappeared aboard the ship.
"Ah Ryoko! How can I get you down?"
"Oh Adrien! There's no way I can escape! I've tried everything. Adrien!" Ryoko called as she was being beamed aboard the ship.
"No Ryoko!"
"Mia?"
Adrien looked down to see Ryo-ohki.
"Ah Ryo-ohki, quick we have to go after Ryoko!"
"Miaaaaaa!!!!!" Ryo-ohki said as she began to transform into a spaceship. Adrien teleported aboard and managed to maneuver Ryo-ohki into the wormhole after Mikomo's ship, just as the wormhole closed.
Mikomo was sitting down in a chair on the bridge of his ship monitoring his travel through the wormhole. He looked on the screen of his holographic computer and noticed he was getting some strange readings…
"What's this? This can't be! How did that boy manage to follow me?! Hmmm well let him come…he won't be able to save you anyways Ryoko" Mikomo said turning around to Ryoko. Ryoko was restrained inside of a gigantic hourglass. Ryoko beat her fists on the glass but it seemed to be shielded…Ryoko also found that she could not use her powers, that must have been due to the power of Mikomo's own gems.
"What do you plan to do with me?" questioned Ryoko.
"I plan to make all your worst nightmares come true as you die…" Mikomo said as he began to type away at his keyboard. "First off…I know how you hated being in that cold, dark cave…so let's make this more interesting shall we" Mikomo activated a few keys and the hour glass that Ryoko was imprisoned in began to fill up with icy cold water…
Without the use of her powers Ryoko was susceptible to drowning and to getting hypothermia in the cold water. Mikomo continued to type away at his computer. "And now for the finishing touch…that friend of yours better hurry if he wants to save you in time…now…darkness!" The hourglass' glass then turned black becoming opaque, and Ryoko couldn't see out…and no one could see in…
"Don't worry Ryoko…at least you can still hear me…that way you'll know the exact moment when I kill him! Hahahahahaha!"
'Oh no Adrien…' Ryoko thought panicking as the hourglass continued to fill with the freezing cold-water…Ryoko's body began to shiver from the cold. Being in total darkness unnerved Ryoko also…it reminded her of when she had been trapped in the cave, and she was just as helpless this time also…there was nothing she could do.
Just then Adrien appeared in the ship's main bridge by teleporting there.
"What?! I guess you must have teleported here…no matter…I will be able to defeat you easily" Mikomo jested.
"Where's Ryoko? What have you done with her? Who are you?"
"My aren't you an inquisitive one, Ryoko is right here…" Mikomo said motioning to the hourglass, "So you better hurry and defeat me because as we speak that hourglass is filling up with water…Ryoko no longer has access to her powers in my ship and so she can drown. And as for who I am…since you're going to be dead I guess there's no reason not to tell you. I am Ryoko's brother."
"Brother?"
"Yes I am the son that was taken away from Washu when I was only 1 year old."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because I want my mother all to myself and Ryoko is in the way"
"You sick bastard! What's wrong with you?"
"Silence…now you die!" Mikomo said typing away at his computer. Soon about a dozen droids materialized around Adrien. Adrien immediately activated his energy sword.
"Why don't you face me yourself coward instead of hiding behind you creations!" Adrien said as she attacked the droids managing to destroy them easily.
Mikomo clenched his fists in anger. "Shut up! I am not a coward!" Mikomo said as he activated his own energy sword. "Listen up Ryoko…you'll get to hear as I kill your friend here."
Then Mikomo charged Adrien. Adrien charged at Mikomo also. The two swords clashed and they began to fight each other.
Ryoko listened to what was going on helplessly as the water level inside the hourglass continued to rise. What could she do to help Adrien…
"You're not bad for someone of such low intelligence" mocked Mikomo.
"Intelligence isn't everything" replied Adrien.
'What can I do? I can't let Mikomo kill Adrien! Why did he come after me? I'm not worth it. I have to do something…' Ryoko thought desperately. 'I know, the gems, I can't use them now anyways but maybe if I transfer them to Adrien he can use them somehow. It's worth a shot…'
Ryoko closed her eyes and tried to block out the darkness and the cold so she could concentrate. She reached deep within her looking for something, anything that could help her transfer the gems to Adrien. She searched until she felt a warmth, she grasped onto it and the green gems on her wrists and neck began to glow.
"You might as well give up, boy. You are not nearly as powerful as me, my special radar tells me exactly how much power you have and it's pathetic really." Mikomo mocked as he brought his sword down upon Adrien with such force that Adrien stumbled backwards.
"I will admit you are pretty strong but I still have the skill to beat you" countered Adrien as he gathered the strength to push Mikomo back. Using a series of complicated maneuvers he managed to get past Mikomo's defenses and wound him.
"Ah! Damn you, you're pretty fast but that won't save you!" yelled Mikomo.
'Ah, I can feel the gems, now I only have to gather the strength to transfer the gems to Adrien. Theoretically since the gems on Mikomo's ship are programmed to be stopping me from using the gems' power when Adrien has them he should be able to use them. I hope it works out like that. I'm not a science wiz! Now if only I could find the strength…I feel so cold…No! I must ignore it, I can't let Adrien die for me…not for me…' Ryoko thought as she gathered her remaining strength to transfer the gems to Adrien. The water level was rising rapidly as the temperature inside the hourglass was decreasing rapidly also, along with Ryoko's body temperature.
With her remaining strength Ryoko sent the gems to Adrien then she fainted inside the freezing cold water and sank to the bottom of the hourglass.
"Had enough yet boy?" Mikomo asked as he sliced Adrien across the ribs.
Adrien looked down at his wound it was pretty deep…but then it began to heal.
"What the-" Adrien asked to himself looking down at his wound as it healed before his very eyes. Then he noticed that the green gems were now on his wrists and neck. "Ryoko…"
"What is that you're muttering about? Losing your sanity are we?" teased Mikomo. He had a smile on his face as he looked at the wounded Adrien. His smile weakened however when he noticed how Adrien's wound was beginning to heal. 'But that's impossible! According to the readings I took he shouldn't have enough energy to regenerate that quickly!'
Adrien took his eyes off his no longer wounded ribs and smiled at Mikomo. "Now you die." Adrien said charging Mikomo.
"No this can't be! Such power!" Mikomo said as he checked his internal radar.
Their two swords clashed, one person falling to the ground as a result.
Mikomo had been stabbed through the heart.
"It looks like you've won, I guess you're right-intelligence isn't everything…maybe it's power" Mikomo said as he collapsed from his knees to completely laying on the floor face down. He was dead.
Adrien let his energy sword dissipate in his hands as he sighed in relief. Then he remembered, "Ryoko!" Adrien ran to the hour glass re-ignited his energy sword and brought it down on the dark glass causing it to shatter. Shards of glass flew through the air as all the water began to drain to the floor from the broken hourglass. Ryoko's limp, unmoving body slid to the ground also…
"Oh God Ryoko!" Adrien yelled in despair as he ran over to Ryoko's body and checked for a pulse. Adrien found that she barely had one, it was fading quickly. Adrien also noticed that Ryoko wasn't breathing…
Adrien bent down over Ryoko and began to perform CPR. He blew air into her lungs causing her chest to expand. He also applied pressure to her stomach to force her to breath. He continued performing CPR for several minutes, but Ryoko still wouldn't breath.
"No Ryoko, you can't die on me!" Adrien said refusing to give up on her. 'The gems, maybe they could provide some extra energy' Adrien quickly concentrated on sending the gems back to Ryoko. The gems on his wrists and neck glowed and returned to her. But Adrien noticed the gems did not glow on Ryoko's wrists and neck…
"What's going on? Why aren't they doing anything?" Then Adrien remembered one of the stories Ryoko had told him after the battle with Tokimi, about the group's first battle against Kagato and how Kagato had used a bigger, different version of Ryoko's gems to control her gems.
'That must be it, Mikomo must have similar gems to the ones that Kagato had made. I just have to disengage them.' Adrien thought as he ran over to the central computer. 'Now where can it be…' Adrien thought as he searched through the computer's database. 'Ah here it is outer gems…now if I just disengage them like so…'
The sound of something powering down was heard.
'That must have done it' Adrien thought hopefully returning to Ryoko's side. The gems on her wrists and neck began to glow and then they stopped glowing.
"What the hell! Damn it Ryoko you can't die on me! I love you!" Adrien said as he once again began to perform CPR on Ryoko…he continued until he began to beat on her chest out of frustration. "God damn it Ryoko you can't leave me like this!"
All of a sudden Ryoko's body convulsed and Ryoko began to cough up water, lots of water. She blinked her eyes several times before she got them to focus on the man in front of her. "Adrien?" Ryoko said shakily.
Adrien brought Ryoko into his arms, "Yes Ryoko it's me, everything is ok now."
"Why is it so cold Adrien?…" Ryoko muttered as her body began to shiver violently.
'Oh god, she must be getting hypothermia.' "Ryoko we've got to get you warmed up." Adrien said as he began to remove Ryoko's wet clothing.
"Soo cold…" Ryoko said weakly.
"Don't worry Ryoko we'll get you warmed up in no time." Adrien said as he began to rub his hands up and down her arms and along the rest of her body. She was in nothing but her underwear now. "Ryoko…I think we need to get you warmed up a little more…your body-it won't stop shivering…"
"How Adrien?"
"I can use my body to warm yours, just by pressing up against you…"
"Ok…" Ryoko said softly.
Adrien then began to strip off his clothes until he was in nothing but his boxers. He then pressed the entire length of his body onto Ryoko. He continued to rub her arms and legs while she was underneath, trying to warm her.
"Adrien…what will happen if I don't get warmed up?" Ryoko asked.
"I don't know…"
"Adrien why did you risk your life to save me?"
"You know why…"
"No…I don't"
"Because I love you Ryoko. I didn't get a chance to tell you this Ryoko but Sasami gave me my memory back and everything became clear to me…my feeling for you became clear. I love you Ryoko with all my heart, I'm sorry that I kept that from you."
"No Adrien it's ok…I understand why you kept it from me. But you shouldn't have Adrien…because…because I love you too."
"But Ryoko, what about Tenchi? I thought you loved him?"
"Hmmm I thought I did too…until I found you again that is. It's clear to me now that I only fell in love with Tenchi to replace you, to try and fill this empty void that was inside of me. But even when I was with Tenchi that void was still there…and when I was around you I couldn't feel the void. I felt complete…my love for you never went away it was just buried, waiting to be rediscovered. Tenchi is a very nice person…it was easy for me to confuse the feelings I had for him as love.
Adrien you've always been there for me, you've never let me down. Although I've let you down…will you ever forgive me Adrien, I've hurt you so…"
"Oh Ryoko, my Ryoko, there is no need to apologize. Love heals all wounds. And just hearing you say that heals my bleeding heart. I never thought you would find love for me in your heart again. I hoped you would, every day I hoped, but I didn't want to confuse your emotions so I stepped aside. I stayed by and watched you and Tenchi…there were so many times I wanted to help or be closer to you but I just…I didn't want to interfere with your life…not if you didn't want me there."
"Adrien I want you in my life. I want you in me…"
"What?" Adrien asked looking down at Ryoko in disbelief.
"Well, you said it yourself, I need to get warmed up. And I don't know about you, but I'm still freezing." Ryoko said while smiling mischievously at Adrien, she then wrapped her arms around his neck brining him closer to her so she could whisper in his ear. "I can think of a few ways that will warm us both up…"
Adrien gulped. "I don't know Ryoko, are you sure-" But Adrien was caught off as Ryoko brought him into a passionate kiss.
***
The next day…
Ryoko knocked on Tenchi's door…
*Knock* *Knock*
"Coming, just a second" came Tenchi's voice. Tenchi then opened the door for Ryoko. Ryoko walked in and sat herself down on Tenchi's bed.
"Tenchi, there's something I need to tell you…and this isn't going to be easy for me to say…"
"What is it Ryoko?"
"Well Tenchi, it's about Adrien. I've…fallen in love with him…and fallen out of love with you…I'm sorry."
But then Tenchi did something totally unexpected, at least from Ryoko's point of view.
"I'm happy for you Ryoko, I always thought you deserved someone better than me…someone that actually understood you. I know that Adrien will treat you the way you deserve, I'm only sorry that I didn't have your heart when I had the chance."
"You're really happy for me Tenchi?"
"Yes"
"Wow, that makes this so much easier. Tenchi I hope you find love someday."
"Thanks Ryoko"
"I have to go and talk to Washu about something, so I'll see you at breakfast ok?"
"Sure thing"
With that said Ryoko left Tenchi's room and headed to Washu's lab. Tenchi closed the door to his bedroom behind her.
"Do you think she suspected?" came a voice.
"Naw, I don't think so…but it doesn't really matter now anyways" Tenchi said turning to see Ayeka coming out of the closet, looking disheveled.
"Who would have thought you had such a low tolerance for Sake Tenchi…you don't have any regrets do you?"
"The timing was perfect, I don't regret anything except that I would like to get to know you a little better Ayeka. To get to know the other Ayeka besides the warrior-princess that you are when around Ryoko."
"I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised by how many sides I have Tenchi" Ayeka said as she used her index finger to motion Tenchi towards the bed.
In Washu's lab…
"Washu. Hey Washu! Are you in here?" Ryoko called into the depth of the lab.
"Over here little Ryoko."
Ryoko walked over to where Washu was, she was feeding some of the creatures that she had in these gigantic glass tanks.
"Uh Washu there's something I need to tell you…" Ryoko began nervously. She didn't know how she was going to tell Washu about Mikomo.
"Is this about how Adrien killed my son?"
Ryoko gasped, Washu knew? Was she angry?
"You know…but how?"
"You forget soo easily about our link" Washu said as she tapped the side of her head. "Don't worry Ryoko I'm not angry…just disappointed…and a little sad."
"Mom…I'm sorry…"
"Don't be little Ryoko, it wasn't your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault but mine. I should have been there for him, been a mother to him, then maybe he wouldn't have turned out this way."
"But you can't blame yourself either Washu, what could you have done?!"
"Hmmm I don't know…gone after him…"
"But you know what would have happened if you had"
"Yes, I suppose there was no way around it…"
Ryoko never saw Washu, her mother, this vulnerable. Ryoko decided to let down her protective shield for a moment as she gave her mother a hug.
"Mom…at least you still have me…a daughter…that is…if you want me" Ryoko stuttered.
"Of course I want my daughter!" Said Washu embracing Ryoko a little tighter. "And I sure hope you want a daughter…"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, according to my calculations the baby you and Adrien are going to have has a 88% chance of being a girl."
"What! Me and Adrien aren't having children…at least not now."
"I beg to differ little Ryoko…you happen to be pregnant!"
Ryoko turned beet red, "What! I'm pregnant! So soon! I mean we just…uh…" Ryoko tried to say while turning even redder.
"No need to try and hide it Ryoko, you are once again forgetting about our link" Washu said tapping her head knowingly. "Who would have thought you could be so…conniving…you knew your temperature was back to normal way before you two started *cough* having sex."
"Mom! I can't believe you! Am I really?"
"Yep, Adrien's sperm are quite strong, they're like miniature Samurai! I'm surprised you aren't having twins!"
"Mom, I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you!"
Just then Adrien walked through the lab door.
"Hey Washu! Ryoko! Where are you two? I brought you girls some drinks."
"We're over here!" Washu called back.
"What? oh my god, I can't see him now…I can't tell him yet" began Ryoko nervously.
Adrien spotted the two girls and ran over to them. He was carrying to darkly colored drinks in his hand.
"Hey Ryoko I made you a special drink…a Black Russian it has Kahlua and vodka-"
Washu snatched both drinks from Adrien's hands. "I'm afraid Ryoko can't drink that"
"Huh why not?" asked Adrien confused.
"Because, Ryoko's going to be a mommy!" exclaimed Washu.
"A-a mommy? But that would mean that I am going to be a…a…uh…" Adrien said before passing out cold.
"Mom why did you have to tell him!"
"Calm down little Ryoko, he'll wake up shortly." Washu snickered as she took a sip of the drink Adrien had offered her. "Hmm quite good, I'll have to remember that…a Black Russian.
***
The End!
So this is Alternate Ending #1 what did you all think? Have any ideas or requests for another alternate ending you'd like to see done? If so let me know!