Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo! And all its' characters belong to Pioneer LDCA.
He knew another place, a wood,
And in it. Tall as trees, were cliffs;
And if he stood on one of these,
'Twould be among the tops of trees,
Their upper branches round him wreathing,
Their breathing mingled with his breathing.
(Part 5 of, 'The Lone Striker' by Robert Frost)
Author's Notes: Mwahaha, the last chapter left you hanging, I'm so evil (cackles while you peeps are dangling over a huge valley with text floating above you) HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe I'll just leave you there, it's better that way. Lol. I wouldn't do that to you peeps! But-- I WON'T CONTINUE IF YOU DON'T REVIEW!!! So, if you want more, you gotta beg. I've got the whole story planned out and if I get zilch reviews what's the point of tying in vain? Hmmmm? Anyhoo, last chapter was a bit long (gets thwacked in the head with a zillion more rotten tomatoes) ick! Second time that's happened. Go throw those things in the garbage! NOT AT ME!!! All right? All right, let's go.
All Alone (part 5)
Ryoko couldn't believe it. She wouldn't believe it. Wouldn't couldn't shouldn't. The small body made a quiet groan of pain as it hit the ground, the pirate's vision becoming fuzzy again. 'NO! FIGHT!!! I WON'T LET HIM WIN THIS TIME!!!' the summoner cried at the top of her lungs (mentally of course) and crawled over weakly to Sasami. "No... Sasami, wake up! Don't die on me kid! You've still got to become a queen and stuff! You've still gotta scold the snoopers when they snoop! Don't die Sasami! Not for me! Don't die!" the little girl opened her pink eyes slowly and stared painfully at her friend, "R-Ryoko... Y-You all right...?" blood trailed out the corner of her mouth, and Ryoko washed it away. "Why? Why'd you save me? Of all people? You might die because of me!" Sasami shook her head slowly, "No... y-you forget that Tsunami is still with me. I-if it wasn't for her, I-I'd probably be dead by now, Ryoko. I won't die, j-just set me down. It stings really b-bad," the pirate obediently teleported to Ayeka, who was shocked by her sisters and Ryoko's actions. "Here... Take her into Washu's lab. Press the kani number two to get to the hospital like section (kani means crab in japenese)," Ryoko gently slid her into the elder princess's hands, who got covered in dripping blood as soon as the little girl was hunched onto her.
"G-go... Go now before I lose control." Ayeka nodded a thank you and ran into the house, running for the closet door. "I will stay," Tenchi muttered, stepping up to her. "No, get out of here now Tenchi! I don't want anyone else hurt! GET OUT OF HERE!!!" Ryoko cried out and clutched her head again, her eyes flashing a sick green. The half-breed readied his Tenchi-ken and blocked the first blow delivered by Ryoko, and screamed toward the two officers, "Go help Washu-chan! Do it now!" they both nodded, and ran for the clearing. Tenchi returned his gaze towards the expressionless face of his friend, and partner in battle. "Ryoko! Fight back! Don't let him do to you what Kagato did! Fight! Fight! Do it for Washu! Do it for me! Do it even for Minagi and Ryo-ohki! They need you god dammit! Fight!!!" her force was softened a little, just enough for the young man to knock her away and ready himself for the next attack.
Washu stumbled up, the blood seeping from her gash on her forehead. She wiped it away with a swipe of her hand and leaned into the tree; trying to keep whatever strength she had left alive. The scientist saw Mitis watching the battle between her daughter and Tenchi with amusement, and the two officers running toward her; not attracting any attention from the man whatsoever. Kiyone was the first to reach her, and knelt down to her size, "Washu? Are you all right? Have you lost too much blood yet?" the redhead rolled her eyes, and morphed into her adult form, causing the blue haired officer to jump back in surprise. Mihoshi ran up and pulled some wrappings from her pocket (god knows where she hides those things) and handed them to Washu, "Here...... Dab this on your gash, it's not the best medicine, stings like hell, but it'll remove any chance of infection!" the ditz was trying to break through the barriers she'd put up again.
"Thanks, but... That's not the problem. Help me over to Ryoko, will ya?! She's trying to gain control again and she's failing, I need to help her!" they both nodded and let the scientist's arms drape around their necks, to worn out to fly herself. They reached them in a matter of seconds, the blows showering sparks onto the ground. Washu took her arms back and limped toward the two, "Tenchi! Can you manage to hold her in that position?" he struggled a nod as he felt himself being slammed against a tree. The redhead snuck up behind her daughter and floated up a tiny bit, just enough to wrap her in the strangle hold for a bit. Washu grasped the pirate gently, yet strong enough to hold her in place.
She leaned forward a little bit and pulled Ryoko off of Tenchi, whose arms fell to the sides like jelly as she started to hiss in her ear, "Ryoko! Fight it! I know you can hear me, but don't doubt that you can't do it! That's his stronghold over you, let it go! Let your pride go for a bit! Act like you did when you attacked Kagato! Let your emotions do their bidding! Like you did this afternoon! Let yourself go like you did those times! Fight it with that power! Fight it, Ryoko!" her arms struggled against her mother's grip, the controlled shell fighting with someone else's property.
Inside her body, the pirate listened and watched everything that was happening, attacking Tenchi, her mother.... Washu. 'Fight it! Fight it with that power! Fight it, Ryoko!' the redhead's voice erupted into her ears, startling the summoner from the torture she was going through, I can't, Washu... I can't... she curled up into a ball in her mind and cried. I say you can! Fight it! Do it like you did with Kagato! Fight, little Ryoko! Fight it, I'm doing my best to help! But the big part's with you! the cyan haired woman curled up tighter than her arms could grip, and she cried harder. Yes! Like that! Keep letting your emotions pour out, little Ryoko! You've almost got it! Ryoko ignored the fact she was using her nickname, and let her emotions come out. Love, hate, angst, depression, pain, any other emotion she could've felt came out right then and there. And she regained her body, Washu holding on looser than before, letting Ryoko dangle in the air with her.
"Damn you, Washu! You always ruin everything, everything I say!" Mitis snapped his fingers, and was gone, Ryoko passing out into her mother's caring arms.
Angst, the best thing I've ever felt
Recoil, look at them cower before me like idiots
They don't understand, none of them do
None whatsoever...
'Is that really true?' asked myself one night
Of course it is! What else would it be?
'False' I hear myself argue quickly
Hah! What would you know? No one understands me...
'I know.'
Yea right!
'I know because I am you'
Then why am I arguing with you?! I screamed
'Because you doubt your heart's will...'
Angst...
Recoil..
'Don't ignore me!' I hear my heart shout
Angst...
Recoil...
'Listen goddammit!'
Angst....
Re--Reo..
'Good! You're listening! Dig deeper!'
An---
Reoko...
'You've almost reached it!'
Ryouko.
'Yes! Now bring it to the surface! Before you lose yourself!'
Ryouko... Sounds familiar, nice name.
'Keep at it! Keep trying!'
Ryouko...Ryouko...Ryouko...
'Yes-YES! A little more! Just a little more!'
Ryouko...Ha-
'A bit more!' my heart was thumping in my chest
Ryouko... Ha-Haku-Hakubi? Ryouko Hakubi?
'YES!'
Ryouko Hakubi... That's a beautiful name. 'Demon Summoner...' whoever's mother of that person must be smart.
'C'mon! You must remember!'
Remember? Remember what?
'Remember who you are! Your mother1 Even your tiny father! Your two sisters! Your other half!'
Wow... That's a lot to remember.
'No shit. Now keep trying! Push these other feelings away and remember who you are before you lose yourself again!'
All right... Ryouko Hakubi. How do I know this, Ryouko?
'Look into your heart.'
Why should I? You're my heart!
'True, but I am just a voice, I've no knowledge whether or not I know these people.'
But... You kept telling me to remember..
'Yes, but you are the soul. I am merely the shell you built up around myself.'
I am the soul...
'Yes! Now try to remember!'
The soul... Ryouko........... Somehow, no, it is my name, Ryouko Hakubi.
'Yes...'
My mother.... Wa--Wash------Washuu?
'Very good. You're progressing better than we usually do, Ryoko. Now what're your sister's names?'
Mi-Mina-Minagi! Yeah! That's it!
'Now the other.'
Ryo-ohki. I'd never forget her in a zillion years... Never.
'Never, huh? Then why were you so contempt in the words "Angst and Recoil?" eh?'
I don't know. I forgot I guess.
'Whatever... What's your other half's name?'
I think... Is it Zero?
'I can't answer that, you must do it yourself'
Then it's Zero unless someone says otherwise.
'Now, remember your friends!'
Friends? I don't have any friends, they're all dead.
'Lies. Do you yourself think that is true?'
......... I don't know anymore.
'Well think then!'
My mother...
'DON'T TRAIL BACK!!! KEEP DIGGING!!!'
Jesus christ, do you need to shout?
'Um.....no'
Then why the hell did you yell?
'Hey... You rhymed.'
Shut-up.
'Remember!'
Goddammit.. Wait....
'Wait?'
Masaki...
'Yeah, what about it?'
Tenchi Masaki! I remember! Mihoshi, Kiyone, Ayeka, and...
'And...?'
Sasami. Oh my god! I have to get to her! Let me out of here!!!
'I'm sorry, but I can't do that for you. You've got to do this yourself.'
HOW?!
'I don't know.'
You're a great help.
'I know.'
That's an insult you know.
'I know.'
Idiot.
'I know.'
Oh! Shut-up with the 'I knows' all ready!
'Okay.'
???
'Well...'
Well what? You're not helping my mood.
'There's a way out of here.'
There is? Tell me!
'You must remember.'
I DID ALREADY!!!
'Did not.'
DID SO!!!
'Not.'
SO INFINITE!!
'Not infinite one'
My GOD! How can people stand you?
'How can you stand yourself? I AM you.'
Yikes... That's scary man.
'I'm not a man.'
Duh, you think I didn't notice?
'Oh well... You still haven't remembered.'
Remembered what?
'Your past with Washu.'
My mother?
'Yup. Mine too, don't be a hog.'
Least you admit it.
'Oh yeah? You did too!'
Ummmmmm.... Now how do we get out of here?
'You have to remember.'
How can I? Kagato completely blocked them.
'Some. There's still some left that you locked up inside yourself. You yourself can't remember where they are, you hid them so well.'
With Washu's help?
'YES!!!'
Okay... I'll try.
'...'
...
'...'
...
'Figured it out, yet?'
Um... I think I see a bright red thing...
'Ryoko, that's your sword.'
Oh... I knew that!
'...'
...
'Anything?'
Uhhhhhh... I think I see Washu screaming far away. I'm in the air, someone's got his arms around me.
'That'd be your capture from Kagato'
Geez... that sucks.
'Anything else from there?'
Kagato's just frozen her in that weird crystal thingie.
'I'm sorry..'
You're saying sorry to yourself.
'Oh yeah!'
Well... The scenes changed............ That's all I can remember.
'Well then. See the truth yet?'
What truth?
'THE truth.'
WHAT truth?
'T-H-E truth! Do I need to spell it?'
WHAT TRUTH GODDAMMIT?!?!?!
'The goddammit truth? That's a new one.'
GOD! Am I really that stubborn?
'You got it.'
I pity myself...
'Hahahaha... Very funny. Now do you see it?'
NO! I DON'T!
Washu wiped her brow tiredly as another drop of blood fell down from her bandage on her forehead. It'd been three weeks since the attack, and Sasami was still out of commission, the sword having put her in the same state as Ryoko. Remembering her forgotten past. Forgetting it again. Remembering it again. Just one big circle. Of course, they'd be out of it if they admitted to something they've always kept secret. The scientist scribbled down all the words the both of them said. The computer did Sasami, while she concentrated on her daughter. The voice was always the same, trying desperately to make them gain their memory, but somehow losing the battle because the entity becomes consumed by depression.
Today had to be different, because the pirate was remembering her capture from Kagato, and trying to keep the memory of her friends alive. Washu herself had to snicker when her daughter's heart was trying really hard to keep her soul at peace. 'The goddammit truth? That's a new one.' kept ringing in her mind quietly as she listened to the rest.
'Yikes.'
Yikes what?
'Yikes because your mom's been listening on in this.'
Awww man!
'Whatever.'
Whatever? WHATEVER? This is bad!
'How so? She said she wouldn't make fun of us.'
Oh yeah... I forgot.
'Liar.'
Shut-up.
'I'm tired of listening to you, how about YOU shut-up for once?'
Why should I?
'Why should I?'
Because...
'Because..'
Stop copying me!
'Stop copying me!'
STOP IT!!!
'STOP IT!!!'
Ergh. I'M AN IDIOT!!!
'Of course you are.'
ARGH!!!
The redhead laughed heartily in the silence of her lab, not to mention happy that her daughter wasn't going to lose her memory this time around. The only other person in there was Ryo, who was watching the both of them curiously, having regained her ability to hear, laughed along with her creator.
"Oh my... I haven't had a laugh like that in FOREVER!! Eh, Ryo?" the humanoid nodded, smiling all the while. A sound of someone entering interrupted the laughter. Ayeka appeared under the light, and had her arms crossed as if she were cold, "Little Washu? Are any of them better yet?" the scientist shook her head, "No, Ryoko's showing some sign of progression, and should be up soon. Sasami I'm not so sure about, I'm sorry. Would you like to help with something?" the elder princess nodded and walked over, still trying to hide the concerned look on her face. "Ayeka. Wipe that phoney face off right now. You're NOT in the military, you can show emotion every once in a while, all right?"
Ayeka nodded again, a little emotion pouring out, but not much. Washu sighed in defeat, "Whatever... Come here." the princess walked over and waited for the direction. "Watch this paper for any words that might seem, out of character for both of them, all right? Both of them are talking to their hearts, they're trapped in their mind, so they can forget easily if something bothers them. So absolutely, NO touching. That alright with you?" she nodded again. The scientist stretched, "I'm gonna get something to eat. And I need a nap. You can go ahead and converse with them, they'll hear you." and a second later, she was gone.
The violet haired woman stared at her sister's paper first, and found she was conversing with her heart ALONG with Tsunami. She couldn't help but chuckle that it looked like one big chat box of doom. She watched the paper form words by an invisible hand.
Hey, Tsunami?
"What is it?"
Can I get out of here?
"Ask your heart, I don't know."
Ummmm... Heart?
'Hmm?'
How do I get out of here?
'You have to admit something. Like facing the truth of something you don't want to.'
How's that?
'You have to remember something you've forgotten. In your case, it could be in Tsunami's past as well.'
"Really?"
'Yes, really. A goddess asking a lowly self like me is honorable.'
"You're not low, neither of you."
Yeah right.
"I mean it!"
'Wow...'
Ayeka turned to Ryoko's and burst out in laughter at the text that was now showing up.
I'm NOT a pig! Let me outta here!
'Can't do that, pig.'
STOP THAT DOUGHNUT FACE!
'Yummy...'
ARGHHHH!!!!
'Hehehehee, you see the truth now?'
NO NO NO NO!!!!
'Thought so... Gotta look deeper, piglet.'
Why you.... Oh yeah. Jesus I'm stupid!
'You sure are!'
I can't believe I'm arguing with my heart! My god that's childish!
'No freaking duh.'
Well wise girl (lookie!I remembered that the heart was Ryoko! Aren't I smart?) since you're so smart, why don't you ask Washu what's going on?
'Can't.'
Why not?
'I'm the heart. We're only connected by the brain, dumbo.'
I'm NOT dumbo! Ayeka is!
'How rude.'
MAN! You're even starting to act like her! And you're me for god sakes!
'Oh yeah, did I mention that she's listening in on this too?'
WHAT?!
'Washu needed to take a break, so Ayeka's listening to every word you say, piglet.'
I'm not a piglet already! Ayeka! If you're listening to this, watch something else! This is gonna get ugly!
The princess continued to watch as the two sharing the same body quarreled with one another, cursing this way and that.
(censored due to small children)
Ayeka covered her eyes as the pirate swore and the word (a certain four letter word I'm sure you all know of) appeared, no stars or anything to block the unwanted lettering. (lol... I had to put that in there. Naughty Ryoko!) The polite woman switched her gaze back to Sasami, which was mostly blank because she was thinking. She decided this was a good time as any to talk to her. "...Sasami?" text appeared after
"Sasami, Ayeka's talking."
'Yeah! Answer back!'
...What is it Ayeka?
Ayeka sighed in relief, at least they could hear her, "Um... Are you all right?"
Yeah, the pain's all gone. Tsunami's talking to me, so is my heart.
"That's good. The food's been cooked by Washu ever since you two fell down."
Is it good?
"Not as good as yours or Ry-" she caught herself in midsentence.
Hah! I knew it! You do like Ryoko's cooking!
"Do not!"
So!
"NOT!!!!"
Fine, be that way. Did Mitis go away?
"Yes... Washu pissed him off by getting Ryoko back,"
That's good! Anything else you want to ask me?
Ayeka paused for a second, then let the question blurt out, "Why did you help Ryoko? You could've been killed!" Text appeared on both sheets this time. First Ryoko's:
Ayeka! That's cruel! Don't (bleeping in process) pick on her because she saved the "pirate!"
Sasami's:
Um.... I don't know why. She's a really good friend and I'd hate myself if she got hurt. But another reason is because she's just like me. In a way, she can be an old cranky lady, but if you get to her soft side, she's still a kid who never got to live her childhood thoroughly. One other reason is because... because.. Because this is what happened in my dream.
Ayeka gasped as the text stopped appearing on her sister's board, and Ryoko's was just periods dabbing themselves onto the paper. The princess talked no more, and watched for the next few hours, in silence.
Washu helped herself to some hidden doughnuts in her fridge, still listening to her daughter, and laughing as she shared the snack with Ryo-ohki.
(censored again due to small children)
"Man, who'd have thought Ryoko could be that much of a talker, funny..." the scientist mumbled, flipping on something as she walked out of the lab. Tenchi was already seated on the couch, reading through the second book of the set his father had handed to him about handling his temper better. The redhead sat on the couch, receiving glances around the room from Mihoshi and Kiyone, and of course Tenchi. Washu looked back, "What? Is it so bad to watch TV?" she asked innocently, and flipped it to Comedy Planet, much to Mihoshi's joy.
Kiyone watched in interest as the show was the one where the three robots watched a movie and made corny jokes about it as they watched. She even snickered a couple of times, though quiet enough to only let it audible to Washu and Ryo's ears. Tenchi managed a smile when he looked up from his book every once in a while, until he finally put it down and laughed along with Mihoshi, even if they were stupid jokes at times.
Ayeka sat down on the purple cushion Washu had pulled out of nowhere when she'd come in, and continued to watch the script, unknowingly, her clothes tapped Sasami's hand, and the script took an abrupt change. The princess watched in horror as she jumped out of her seat and read the words, denying them for false. Even Tsunami's memory had gone.
Happiness, what a bunch of junk.
"Happiness?"
Goodness, crappy stuff I tell ya.
'Oh man! Not again...'
"Again?"
Yeah? Again?
'Yes, again! This is the fifth time already!'
Fifth time what?
'God...'
"I'm a god."
'Of course you are.'
"Then bow to me, freak!"
'This is gonna take a while...'
Ayeka kicked her pillow, and plopped back down in it, far away from the two sleepers. "Might as well wait until her heart makes it back to her. It's MY fault!!!" her cries echoed helplessly in the gigantic lab.
Ryoko heard her cries, and began talking through the paper, even if she didn't know it was appearing on the paper.
Ayeka! What's your fault? You didn't do anything!
She replied back slowly, "Sasami's lost her memory again. It'll take at least an hour for her to regain it again."
So? It's ONE hour! One hour! You don't need to get all funny about it!
"That's not the point!"
Oh? If I could wake up I'd probably be running. But... What point?
"I am the one who delayed her waking up! And if you were awake, you'd be crying helplessly if YOU were the one that delayed it. She saved your life remember?"
I remember. And I'm sorry about that, I didn't want her to get hurt, but... She's the one that shoved me out of the way! You can't change the past, so stop dwelling on it!
"Oh sure. And you have those nightmares about Kagato? Is that not "dwelling" on the past?"
That hurts. How would you feel if you had to (bleeping) kill all those families because a certain bastard wanted to rule the entire (bleeping) universe? Goddammit Ayeka! It feels like shit! And how'd you know I had those dreams?
"Duh. Anyone who has ears could hear your sobbing from the roof, even Washu could hear it, because she came out of her lab to make sure you went back to sleep dreamless!"
Ayeka! STOP IT!!!
The princess turned her gaze to the pirate herself, just to see if there was any reactions. To her surprise, Ryoko's face was drenched in tears, and more were still coming. She turned back to the text, "I'm sorry, I didn't know it was that sensitive a subject for you."
Yeah right, princess bitch.
Ayeka ignored the comment.
I hate feeling like this! It feels worse than hell itself, and I'm LIVING through it! Washu doesn't even know how I feel! I keep that part blocked up!
Ayeka continued to watch, "I'm sorry..."
SHUT-UP!!! YOU'RE NOT HELPING!!!
Unknown to the princess, Washu watched the whole thing, only coming out of the shadows to slap her if she made Ryoko lose her memory.
..... Idiot.
"Look who's talking. Arguing with her heart."
Shut-up about that.
"Make me!"
I would if I could!
"HAH! Guess you can't. Too bad for you."
AYEKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"What? Are you going to tell me about being Kagato's whore?"
GODDAMMIT AYEKA!!!! SHUT-UP!!! I DON'T WANT TO FREAKING TALK ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!
"Hmph, as if you can get up and make me."
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
Ayeka sat back down and watched the paper slowly tell her about her past.
You want to know what happened in the past? FINE. It started 5000 years ago...
The princess watched as the pirate explained her life, little by little.
I woke up, and the first thing I received was a slap across the cheek.
"What about your childhood? You must remember some of that."
No. I don't. The bastard completely blocked them off. Anyways, after that…
Ayeka turned away from the summoner and met with a blow to the cheek, hitting the bruised skin Ryo had put. The princess's face turned to the other side completely. She cupped her cheek with her hand, and faced Washu, "How dare you. Don't EVER insult Ryoko like that in the future, got that? How would you feel if you had to live through the shit Kagato put her through for 5000 years? Why don't we use the virtual reality room and find out. Get the hell outta my lab before I do something…else. And be lucky you only got smacked," the princess of the Jurai Royal family, ran away. The scientist put her hand down and walked over to the tube, facing her daughter. 'Are you all right? You're going to be waterlogged if you cry like that any longer,"
Shut-up.
"I'm sorry I let her do that. Anyways, I heard you're remembering! You remember how you got captured?
Yeah, he completely blasted our house to bits, then you were in the air with your sword drawn. Kagato, I think he was the one with his arm around me, then sealed you in a crytal thingie, morphing you into your child form to make more room. What he didn't know was you still had a gem. It's on your neck, am I right?
"Yes, but how did you know? I didn't say anything about having a gem."
Ummmm... Well, you can fly and stuff, make energy swords, sometimes teleport and phase!
"You got me there. Pretty smart thinking."
But, if you have a gem. That means two of mine are phoney, because Ryo-ohki has one too.
"Very good! Yes, I gave each of us a gem. Minagi has one because Yakage stole a proto type of a gem I was making. The gem you're wearing right now in a phoney, that's why Katsuhito is still alive, his young appearance needs a true gem on the Tenchi-ken."
You saw through the mask too?
"Uh, yeah. He didn't do a too good of job trying to say his mask was real. But, Ayeka doesn't know, and he asked us to keep it from them, you know?"
Yup. Anyways, you were talking about the gems?
"Oh yeah! Well, since the gems were totally impossible to copy. I made completely different ones, not as powerful as the original, but powerful enough to blow a planet to bits if they're all together. You see, when one has all three gems, the real ones, combined, you can make the ten lighthawk wings. But the flaw in the gems is that someone can control you through them, like Kagato and Mitis did."
That sucks...
"You bet it does. I didn't know about the flaw until too late, because Kagato snuck in one night while we were sleeping, and inputted those flaws. So I'm sorry about that."
But it wasn't your fault!
"Yes it was..."
WASHU!
"What?"
Stop ^%&$*^% blaming yourself! You can't change the past!
"Watch your mouth."
Shut-up. It's MY mouth, I can do what I want with it.
"Goddamn puberty..."
I'm not in puberty!
"Hah! Yeah right. Then why do you act all bitchy around me?"
Because......Because.......
Washu watched in interest, "Because...?"
Because I'd be showing emotion if I don't tease you! There, I said it!!!
"Is that so. What emotion would that be?"
…Now, how do I get outta here?
Washu shrugged, "Oh well. Change the subject why don't ya,"
Soooo?
"Scared of your own feelings?"
Stop it! You're acting like my heart!
"Well, half your heart IS me. So of course I'd be acting like you, Ryoko."
Um…Um…Um…
"Embarrassed?"
NO!!! What's to be embarrassed about?
"Being part of me if you like it or not?"
………………………
"Want me to leave?"
No, not really.
"How sweet."
Where am I in your lab?
"In a tube, green fluid keeping you afloat. You got oxygen, since you like breathing so much."
And Sasami?
"She's on a table right next to you. I've kept a record of what you guys said in there."
Poopy…
"What? You might find it funny if you read it in the future."
Whatever. Now, what would be a good secret to let out to get me out of here?
"I don't know…" the scientist knew, but she wouldn't admit it, "maybe admitting your love to someone?"
Hmph, easier said than done. What's Mitis been up to?
"He's still orbiting around the Earth. Simply mad out of his mind that I got you back to us. He'll come back soon though,"
I hate being like this. Isn't there anything that can wake Sasami or me up?
"No. If I try taking you out by force, you'll probably lose your memory, or brain damage,"
That stinks.
"I'll go. I have to take a nap, sorry. I'll be right here, just sleeping,"
Okay, night-er-day, or whatever.
Washu took a larger pillow out of subspace and curled up on it, letting her thoughts drift into dreamland. Ryoko still kept talking to her heart.
'That was sweet, Ryoko.'
Shut-up, I'm trying to concentrate.
'About what?'
SHUT-UP!!!
'Fine then.'
Ryoko concentrated hard, and watched her past play before her. Receiving the first blow to the cheek she could remember, skipping ahead to blowing up a bank, and strangling a person while her eyes glowed a blood red. Washu was talking to her the whole time. The pirate watched the scene skip ahead to a few years in the future, and shut her eyes, not wanting to see this again. It was the time Kagato took complete advantage over her paralyzed body. The summoner shut her eyes hard, and tried skipping ahead. It went to the part where she was trapped inside the cellar for two to three months, with nothing but beans and Washu to talk to. "Washu… Why does it keep coming back to her?" she thought mentally, thinking why the scientist meant so much in the past.
Then it hit her, hit her hard.
"No way… I have to admit THAT?" Ryoko shook her head, and kept thinking about her past. Kagato this… Kagato that, that's all she could remember besides Washu. Washu… The pirate mentally slapped herself, "Well, I DID save her… I-I don't really know why, I just did… Is it? No way," she went on thinking. Tears went down her face unconsciously again as she watched the attack on Jurai again. Her mother was talking to her then also. The pirate hugged herself close, even in the tank she was curled up.
Washu…
Her name kept echoing in her head as flashes of images appeared with the two of them together, even some pictures of her as a kid riding on her back. No pain came to her heart or brain when she thought of them, but the rest was foggy mist when she tried to push it further. "I can remember…"
'See? I told you that you still had some memories! Ain't I smart?' my heart cried out.
Shut-up.
'Now tell me what your secret is!'
I can't…
'Yes you can! Do it!'
I can't… I won't!
'Silly girl, Kagato's not here to beat the living shit out of you if you show emotion! Do you recognize me yet?'
Yes…
'Who am I then?'
Y-You're me.. The me I was before he kidnapped me.
'Very, very good. I didn't think you'd get that one.'
But how are you still there? I thought he completely drove you out!
'He did. But you, with mom's help, were able to keep some of it without his knowing. Pretty good, huh?'
But…
'No but's! Admit it!'
Why?
'Do you want to get out of here or not?'
Yes…
'Then admit it!'
NO!
Ryoko shut the voice up, and continued to watch her past play in front of her eyes. She knew what she had to do, but she wouldn't do it unless it was a last resort. 'You know you'll do it soon enough…' her brain interrupted her thoughts. "Yeah? So?" 'If you want to get out of here just say it! Say it like you mean it!' The summoner clutched her head, and shut off all forms of communication, minus Washu's, which she didn't know, because she forgot.
"FINE!!! I-I… W-……. M-M-Mommy, I love you!!!"
The tube around her shattered, the oxygen tube was torn from her face as the fluids burst from the tank. The pirate's eyes were swollen, and her naked form collapsed onto the ground, shivering helplessly as she clutched at herself. Her cyan hair was spikier, and her gem was glowing profusely. The pirate shivered, even if she couldn't feel the cold. Ryoko felt a towel fall onto her back, and a hand rested itself on her shoulder. Washu knelt down in front of her daughter, and smiled, "You do, huh? Nice to know," the summoner didn't care anymore, and leaned into her, sobbing a little.
The scientist shifted a little so Ryoko didn't lean onto her gash, and lifted her other arm around the pirate's other shoulder. Washu phased some clothes onto her daughter, which dried her off a little. She smiled wider as Ryoko leaned in closer, and spoke softly to her, "I'm proud of you, hun," the cyan haired woman replied mentally, not regaining full use of her mouth, How so? "You managed to listen to your heart, remember who she was really, and then admitted the truth about your feelings. You took it like a grown-up, you took it like a kid, that takes a lot of guts, Ryoko." The redhead unconsciously started rubbing her thumb up and down the ex-pirate's spine, the shivering stopping a little.
The table that held Sasami was now fifteen feet away from the tank, the little princess strapped tightly to the metal board. Ryoko kept leaning into her mother's shoulder, not flinching when she rubbed up and down her spine. "It's all right, Mama's gotcha," Washu muttered, noticing her crying for the first time, "Why are you crying?" I'm glad. "Glad? For what?" I can remember a little. "Ryoko, that's great! Why didn't you tell me?" Thought you knew all ready, since you knew I cried that out. "No, the only reason I knew that is because you shouted it at the top of your lungs and a wave of fluid soaked me silly," the pirate giggled in her grasp. "Why don't we go see the others? They're worried sick!" the redhead let go of Ryoko and helped her up, since she'd been floating for a few weeks. The pirate leaned into the adult scientist for support, stumbling every few feet or so. Washu really didn't care, just happy out of her mind that her daughter was finally accepting her as her mother.
Ryo-ohki watched the two walk out of the lab, stepping out soon after so Ryoko wouldn't notice that she'd watched the whole thing. Tenchi immediately rushed from his seat to see her, asking a billion questions a minute, Ryoko, are you hurt? Ryoko, can you stand? Ryoko this way, Ryoko that way for five whole minutes, leaving a flabbergasted Hakubi family. "Sweet Jesus, since when do you care so much, huh?" the half-breed blushed, and put a hand to the back of his head, scratching it. Mihoshi smiled at Washu, giving her a, congratulations look seeing her daughter leaning against her without a word of disgust.
Kiyone watched her partners look, and noted to herself to ask what the look was about. The only person not present was Ayeka, who'd seemingly hidden herself in her room to, "Think." Ryoko made her way to the couch with the scientist's help, and watched Comedy Planet for the rest of the evening, leaning back on Washu and fell to sleep.
Author's Notes: Hahahaha!!!! I AM DONE WITH THE CHAPTER!!! Oh yeah, the italics where Ryoko was talking Angst and stuff, that was originally supposed to be a poem. But then I thought of this, and WHAMO! I had to put it down. For those who liked, Washu's Journal, I'm gonna finish this first. Sorry about that, but I want to get this out of the way. Let me tell you this, this may or may not be a Tenchi Ryoko romance, I'm not all hyped up, but I'll think of something if you guys vote. SO TELL ME WHETHER YOU WANT TENCHI RYOKO, OR JUST A PLAIN STORY WHERE RYOKO FINALLY LET'S GO OF THE PAST!!! And, Ayeka fans, sorry for bashing her, but I really get annoyed by her bitching sometimes.