Seven o'clock and all's not quite well
Having finished cooking Sasami sent Ryo-ohki to set the table. Placing the food on serving platters Sasami brought it out. Once the table was ready Sasami and Ryo-ohki set out to hunt everyone down.
Climbing the stairs Sasami wondered about what exactly Ryoko was looking for and why Ayeka hadn't come down yet. Knocking on Tenchi's bedroom door Sasami told him breakfast was ready. Then, turning towards the room she shared with Ayeka, Sasami notice Ryoko hovering around the end of the hall. "Ryoko, what are you doing?" Sasami questioned.
"ACK!" "Oh, it's just you Sasami! Didn't I tell you not to sneak up on me like that?" Questioned a relieved Ryoko.
"Yes you did, but … I'm sorry Ryoko. Can I help you find whatever it is you lost?"
"No, not right now Sasami. Is breakfast ready?"
"Yeah, I was just going to get everyone, but since I found you, can you do it? Please Ryoko?"
"Sure kid. It'll give me a break from my search. Who haven't you told?"
"Everybody!"
"Well, I guess I'd better get started. See you at breakfast."
"Tennnchiii…Tennnchiii…Tennnchiii." Ryoko's husky voice echoed with satin smoothness around Tenchi's room.
Shivering, Tenchi rose to his feet and looked around his room, searching for the owner of the taunting voice.
"Tenchiii…Tenchiiii….Tenchiii…" The flowing musicality of Ryoko's voice wrapped about Tenchi confusing his sense and making him doubt all the resolutions he had made the night before.
"Ryoko, come out, I'm not in the mood for hide and seek." Tenchi's voice sounded strained to his own ears.
"Aw Tenchi, you really know how to kill a girl's fun." Ryoko's image rose from the floor to stand at arms length from Tenchi.
"What do you want Ryoko?" Tenchi issued with an aggravated tone. His patience and tolerance of Ryoko's playfulness was rapidly disappearing with each passing day.
"I was just going to tell you about breakfast. Sasami sent me to get everyone."
"Well, you've told me, now are you going to leave me alone?"
"Temper, temper Tenchi. One might think that you don't love me anymore!" Ryoko teased as she coyly drew circles on Tenchi's chest with her finger.
Tenchi's patience finally broke. "I don't!!! Don't you understand!?! I don't love you! Not that way! I don't think I ever could!" Tenchi was fairly screaming as he thrust a stunned Ryoko away. "Why do you keep pushing things?!? Why can't you just be happy with my friendship? I don't need this! I want to spend my last months at home with my family! I want things to be quiet and peaceful! But you won't let things be that way! You always have to push Ayeka too far! You have to push everyone too far! Well, I've had it! No more!! You can either learn to accept the way things are going to be until I'm gone or you can leave! Got it?!?" Tenchi finished his rant nearly out of breath and as he noticed the tears beginning to form in Ryoko's eyes, he regretted his venting.
"So, I'm the problem. Am I really Tenchi? Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, if you ever decided to get a spine and make up your mind about Ayeka and me you wouldn't feel so trapped and there would be peace in this house? Did it ever occur to you, even just once, that there are other people in this house besides yourself? Did you ever think about what your indecision has cost both Ayeka and myself? Hmm? Just once did you ever stop to wonder what loving you as much as I do, as we both do, does to us? How not knowing whom you love, day in and day out, is killing us? Did you ever once notice how much we love you? How just seeing you everyday gives us both a reason to go on? I've loved you your entire life and Ayeka falls deeper in love with you everyday! We both would willingly die for you; do you think that kind of depth of emotion just falls out of the sky? Well maybe for you and only you it has."
"You're spoilt Tenchi! You know that? You have so many forms of love thrown at your feet, that you don't even recognize the depth of it anymore. It's just there, there for you to take and leave when you want! Well, not me! Not Anymore! If you don't want me, just say so Tenchi! Don't hide behind your righteous shield of friendship! I'm so sick and tired of wanting more from you, so much more than either you're willing to or capable of giving! If you don't want me, just tell me DAMN IT!!" Revealing all her tightly held feelings, Ryoko poured out the pain and frustration of loving Tenchi. Tenchi stood rigid with muted astonishment his eyes widening with Ryoko' s admission about the depth of her and Ayeka's feelings.
"What did you think Tenchi? That I would just quietly slink off after you laid down the law? That I would meekly accept your decree? Well, I won't! I wouldn't be Ryoko and your life wouldn't be the same if I changed! If you want peace in this house then you're going to have to do something about it, because I happen to like things the way they are! I know that everyone in this house is my family. Inside this house I am loved, even if it doesn't look like it to you! But, I have never doubted anyone in this house, until now! You know Tenchi; just because we love you doesn't give you the freedom to promulgate the law of the land. Surprised that I knew how to use that word? Well, get use to being surprise from here on out Tenchi! You want a change, then you've got it buster!! Oh and before I go, just a simple warning! Someday Tenchi, you're going to see how much we love you and you'll make a choice! And when that day comes Tenchi, it just might be too late!" Ryoko's emotion filled voice rocked the house to its foundations with its force. Ryoko fled from Tenchi's room with her heart torn in anguish.
Tenchi stood silently fearful of the emotional display he had just been witness to. Ryoko's warning has echoed his mother's warning and now he was afraid. When his mother has said the warning Tenchi hadn't paid much attention to it. Instead, Tenchi had chosen to take comfort in his mother's acceptance. Now with a cold chill filling his inner being, Tenchi knew he had crossed a line that could never be ignored. Afraid of the repercussions of his actions, Tenchi simply stood in the center of his room watching the morning pass. Everyone had heard the yelling.
Sasami shook her head feeling sorry for Tenchi. He was going to lose more than just Ryoko's friendship if he kept this up. With her bond to Tsunami, Sasami knew Tenchi's destiny. She knew he would need everyone at his side to fight his enemies. She also knew that of all the girls, Tenchi needed Ryoko the most! "Tsunami, why can't he see what he's doing to them?" Closing her eyes Sasami pleaded for an answer.
"I can't answer that Sasami." The ethereal image of Tsunami explained. "Only Tenchi knows the 'what fors' and 'whys' of his actions. I only hope that Tenchi hasn't pushed Ryoko too far. But, don't worry about Ryoko, Sasami; she can take care of herself. And no matter what she feels for Tenchi or what he may do to her, she will always love and protect you."
"I'm worried, Tsunami!"
"I know Sasami, but as a said earlier don't worry, it will all work out in the end. Okay?"
"Yes, Tsunami." Opening her eyes and pushing her doubts away Sasami once again set out to inform everyone about breakfast.
"Lord Tenchi are you all right?" Ayeka asked through Tenchi's closed bedroom door. She had heard the screaming that had come from his room. She had heard every word and while Ryoko had confessed both princess and pirate's feelings, Ayeka had prayed that something would stop her before she explained how deeply both felt. Yet nothing had stopped the pirate's tirade and now Tenchi knew. He knew of her secreted longing for him, of her desire to love and be loved by him. He knew it all and now nothing could take the knowledge away. "Lord Tenchi, has that devil woman done something to hurt you?" Ayeka tried for her usual angry bellow, but only managed weak concern. Placing her forehead against his bedroom door Ayeka willed herself the strength and regal bearing required to comfort Tenchi.
Having found the courage to comfort Tenchi, Ayeka lifted her head and drew in a deep breath. "Lord Tenchi, she spoke the truth about a few things. But, her view of things is a bit off center. You don't use friendship as a shield so much as a blanket. I understand your need to comfort us all and prevent any undue sadness. It is that need that prevents you from choosing, and that is a part of who you are. I'm sure that in a little while Ryoko will regret the anger of her words and will be back to her usual insufferable self. So please Lord Tenchi, do not take anything that Ryoko said to close to heart. She is just as afraid of the day you must go, as the rest of the household is." Finishing her speech Ayeka gently placed a hand on Tenchi's door and spoke softly so he would not hear, "Lord Tenchi… I do wish you would notice us though."
Sighing Ayeka continued her speech to Tenchi. "Lord Tenchi, you must not let this incident disrupt your future. Ryoko will understand how you feel once you are gone. Do not worry about this family we will be fine, each and every one of us. Well, I must go tell Sasami that nobody will be coming for breakfast."
As Ayeka turned the door slid open. "Lord Tenchi?" Ayeka quietly questioned.
"Thank you Ayeka, but Ryoko was right in some points and I have to accept that. Tell Sasami that I'll be down for breakfast soon. Okay?" Tenchi gave her a breath-stealing smile.
Ayeka simply nodded as she gaped at Tenchi.
"I'll go tell Mihoshi and Washu about breakfast, okay Ayeka?" Tenchi questioned.
Once again all Ayeka could do was nod as her eyes increased in size.
Tenchi's smile faltered as Ayeka's stunned expression remained unaltered. "Are you okay Ayeka?" Concern pulling Tenchi's smile into a frown.
Snapping out of her revelry Ayeka's mouth clamped shut and her eyes blinked. "Yes, Lord Tenchi I'm fine. I will go tell Ryo…I mean Wash… I mean Sasami that you will be attending breakfast." Giving Tenchi her brightest smile Ayeka scurried off to the kitchen.