How long can She Keep it up?

The next month and a half flew by so uneventfully that Tenchi doubted he lived in the same house with the same people. Aside from the token Mihoshi mishap or the Washu experiment gone awry not much of interest happened. Fights between Ayeka and Ryoko happened next to never and when they did happen it was never over him and lasted only a matter of seconds before everything blew over. The daily silence became overwhelming for Tenchi he missed the way thing used to be. Finally with a great sigh Tenchi realized that if things were going to return to normal the old Ryoko would have to return.

"But do I really want it all back the way it was?" Tenchi questioned the setting sun. In the past couple of weeks Tenchi had taken to spending his spare time up on the roof watching the sunset and the stars dust the sky. He missed the old Ryoko. He missed her attention. He missed the fights. He missed the daily mayhem. He missed Ryoko. He missed sitting up on the roof with her and watching the star come out. He missed listening to her talk about how much she loved the stars. He missed her teasing him about how much she loved him. He missed it all. He missed her.

"I don't know why I miss her, I see her everyday." He told himself. But it wasn't the same. She didn't seem to want him. She didn't seem to need to be near him. She didn't seem to even need him! She didn't seem to love him! Love him? What did he care if she did or didn't love him? All he wanted or was willing to give was friendship? He had told himself all he ever wanted was peace and quiet and now with only a handful of days to go before he left all he wanted was for the carnival to come back. No, not the carnival; he wanted her back. Back the way she used to be. Not the way she was now. Not the cool, calm almost indifferent woman that had replaced his Ryoko. His Ryoko?

Yes, his Ryoko the brash and rude woman that drank like a fish and cursed like a sailor. His Ryoko the strong, fearless pirate and soft, fragile beauty. His Ryoko the contradiction in terms with a child-like innocence, yet with a mind and body to make a priest sweat. His Ryoko the conflicted soul that had been made to do so much and yet tired to remain uncorrupted by the torment. His Ryoko with no better words for her than Ryoko…

Unresolved and just a bit more conflicted Tenchi rose from the chilled night air at the sound of Ryoko's voice.

"Lord Tenchi your dinner has been waiting, everyone else has finished their meals. I was lead to believe that you had been informed about the meal." She spoke not a hint of seduction or coercion in her voice.

"Yeah, I told Sasami that I didn't feel like eating when she told about dinner."

"As you wish." With the off-handed comment Ryoko turned to leave.

"Ryoko can I as you a question?" Tenchi was unsure what to ask, but if it made her stay just a little longer anything would do.

"Yes, you may Lord Tenchi."

Tenchi winced at the now common placed term that she used to refer to him. It was one thing for the reserved, formal and shy Ayeka to call him that, but the outspoken Ryoko to call him that was almost too much. Looking at her he noticed she seemed so aloof, so distant Tenchi feared retrieving the old Ryoko had become more difficult than he had hoped it would be.

"Ryoko, I've asked you several times to stop calling me that." Tenchi's voice became strained with the obvious effort of his confused feelings.

"What would you have me call you Lord Tenchi?"

"Just call me Tenchi, please."

"As you wish Lord Tenchi."

"Ryoko."

"Sorry, as you wish Lo…Tenchi."

"Thank you Ryoko."

"You are welcome Lo…Tenchi."

"It's going to be hard to break that habit isn't it?" Tenchi chuckled with sympathetic understanding.

"Yes, is will be L…L…L…Tenchi." Ryoko stammered trying to comply with Tenchi's wishes.

"Ryoko, why did you change after you said you wouldn't?" Tenchi finally pooled the courage to ask one of the many questions buzzing around his head.

"Well, Lo…," stopping to clear her throat Ryoko began to speak again, "Well, Tenchi you asked me to and I thought it was finally about time that I started acting like an adult. Why do you ask?"

"Because nothing has been the same since you changed…Ryoko…uhmm…do you still…do you still…still…"

"Spit it out Tenchi, I'm going to end up as old as Washu if you don't."

"Do you still love me?"

"What a silly question to ask Tenchi. Of course I do, I could never stop loving you. Your like the little brother I never had."

"No Ryoko that's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

"Nothing…nothing. Ryoko promise me you won't tell anyone about what we talked about, please."

"As you wish Tenchi. Now if you don't mind I promised Sasami that I would help her with the dishes and then take her and Ayeka out to watch the fireflies."

"Can I come?"

"You can if you want, but I make no promises that it will be all that much fun for you as most of the time will be spent with us talking amongst ourselves. But as I said before, the choice is yours; you may do as you wish. Good evening Tenchi."

"Good evening Ryoko." Tenchi said in a resigned voice to her descending image. What was he going to do? And why did it bother him so much that he was apparently no longer the love of her life? How was he going to get the old Ryoko back? Did he really want the old Ryoko back? He just wasn't sure what he wanted. It all seemed so confusing and so hard. "Well I guess I'll go see what's on TV." Getting up Tenchi dusted himself off and gave up on his musings.

"Lady Ayeka, Princess Sasami are you ready for our trip?" Ryoko questioned to the closed bedroom door.

"Yes, Ryoko we'll be out soon." Sasami informed Ryoko.

"Okay I'll wait for you downstairs."

"Okay Ryoko." Sasami shouted out from behind the closed door.

Downstairs Ryoko silently sat next to Tenchi on the couch as the television glared back at them. Silence enveloped the couple with nothing but the television providing action and sound. Finally Sasami bursting down the stairs dragging Ayeka behind her and calling for Ryoko broke the silent tension that had formed between Tenchi and Ryoko.

"Ryoko come on let's go! Bye Tenchi!" Sasami said as she charged toward the front door of the house hauling a stunned Ayeka in tow.

Ayeka has only enough time to say, "Yes, Miss Ryoko let us depart. Good-bye Lord Tenchi," before Sasami dragged her out of the house.

"Good-bye Ayeka, Sasami." A surprised Tenchi replied to the rapidly disappearing images of the princesses.

Rising from the couch Ryoko turned to Tenchi and said, "Good-bye Tenchi, have a nice evening." Ryoko said over her shoulder to Tenchi.

"Good-bye Ryoko." Tenchi solemnly said to her back as she left in stately silence. Once she was gone Tenchi shut-off the television with a decisive slap and left for his room thoroughly unsettled by Ryoko's lukewarm attitude towards him. 'Tomorrow,' he thought to himself. 'Tomorrow I tell her I want the old Ryoko back. I'll tell her how much I…' unwilling and unable to finish the thought Tenchi entered his room.

Down by the lake Sasami, Ryo-ohki, Ryoko and Ayeka sat on the grass waiting for the fireflies to make their presence known.

"How long do we have to wait Ryoko?" Sasami asked as she chased Ryo-ohki around the lawn.

"Not too long, Princess Sasami. Just be patient and it will all come to you."

"When will Miss Washu get here Miss Ryoko?"

"She should be here soon. Did you remember to bring your bathing suit?" Ryoko asked with a knowing wink.

"Of course I did, it's pretty hard to forget something so simple. So is Lord Tenchi going to join us or can we misbehave as much as we wish."

"I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure that he won't join us so it should be safe to enjoy ourselves as if he wasn't coming."

"So my little Ryoko what are you two up to?" Washu questioned as she placed the bag in her hand down on the ground next to Ryoko.

"Not much mother, so are you ready to give Sasami her firefly show?"

"Of course I am Little Ryoko, shall we off?" Offering her hands to Ryoko and Ayeka, Washu helped them up.

"Well let's get this going."

Down by the water Sasami chased Ryo-ohki, "So are we ready?" Sasami asked slightly out of breath.

"Yes, Sasami we are." Washu replied. Opening the bag Washu found the first jar of fireflies, "Here's you time to shine boys, go for it." With that Washu opened the jar a sent the fireflies scattering in the night sky. One jar after another filled with differently colored fireflies were flung to the evening tapestry. Finally with the last jar opened and its fireflies released Washu sent everyone out to try and catch a couple.

The mayhem and ruckus that ensued attracted Mihoshi and Kiyone to join in the hunt. Eventually Ryoko settled down next to Washu and watched everyone else continue chasing fireflies.

"Mother when do you think the "real" Ryoko should come back?"

"The second she wants to. Do you want to go back to the way you were?"

"I don't know? I don't really think I can. I sort of like the person I am now."

"Yes, that maybe true but we all love and miss the old you."

"Mom?"

"Yes little Ryoko?"

"Do I have to forget everything that's happened so far?"

"No Little Ryoko, you don't."

"Mom?"

"Yes, little Ryoko?"

"Do I have to change completely back to the way I was before?"

"No, this can just be another side of who you are. Human beings are always redefining themselves. The merging of the "old" you with the "new" you is just another form of redefining who and what "Ryoko" is."

"Mom, do you think we can keep what we have right now?"

"I hope so Ryoko, I really do. I don't think I can handle having been this close to you then suddenly returning to what we were before. But, that is up to you, what happens between us and where our relationship goes depends solely on you."

"Mom, I think I'm ready to redefine myself."

"And that would be as…?"

"As a loving daughter, a best friend, a big sister and an absolutely ravishingly stunning space pirate!" Ryoko stood, smiling down at her mother.

"Does that mean your ready to be "My Little Ryoko"?"

Nodding her head Ryoko replied, "What it means is that I'm willing to let everything that we've done, said and share during this charade be the new starting point, for everyone."

"Does that include Tenchi?"

"No, I've learned that I won't die if he doesn't want me, and that I have friends and a mother to give me the love that I've wanted." Ryoko's single gem began to glow with her returning powers.

Looking up at her daughter, Washu held out her hands for help, "Well my little Ryoko, I see the shell personality is almost completely gone, can you forgive me for reprogramming you without complete permission?"

"Yes, Mom I can, because I…." Ryoko trailed off, uncertain about her next words.

"Well, you better get going to Ayeka if you're going to do what you came here in the first place for."

"Thanks, Mom." Ryoko turned to where her friends were still chasing the fireflies around. "Hey Lady Ayeka are you ready for our little swim?" Ryoko's voice held a note of challenge as she called out to the princess.

"Why yes Miss Ryoko I do believe I am." Ayeka said slightly winded as she neared the mother and daughter.

"Well you did say you wanted to know what it was like to feel free from having to live so constrained. So last one in the water has to clean Washu's lab for a whole week." Ryoko said as she bolted for the water shedding layers of clothing along the way.

"Hey you menace that's not fair!" Ayeka screamed as she chased after the pirate mimicking the disrobing process along the way.

"I love you too, my little Ryoko. And thank you for the second chance…for all of us." Washu said to her daughter's fleeing image.

"Hah! I win!" Ryoko yell as she reached the end of the dock naked. "That means you have to clean the lab!" Ryoko yelled as she dove into the water.

"I don't think so Ryoko! You said the last one IN the water not last one TO the water." Ayeka said as she swam towards Ryoko along side the dock.

"Semantics." Ryoko said as she sprayed Ayeka with water.

"Hey you demonic withered old mummy I'll repay you for that!"

"Just try it Princess Prissy Pants and see what you get!"

"Take that you she-monster!" Ayeka said as she used her powers to form a large wave that crashed down on Ryoko.

After sputtering to the surface Ryoko turn to Ayeka, "Oh yeah, well try this on for size you over blown, aristocratic, egocentric, narcissistic, harpy!" With every word Ryoko's powers increased until a giant wave over-shadowed Ayeka.

"Now, now Miss Ryoko I was just kidding with that last wave…" Ayeka began to backtrack in the water as she tried to avoid the mammoth wave about to crash down upon her.

Kiyone heard the commotion coming from the lake and saw the giant wave and screamed to everyone, "In coming!!"

Sasami turned to see the wave and look at Washu, "But Washu I thought that the clone didn't have any powers?"

"Well, the clone never existed, I used a sort of hypnosis to convinced the Real Ryoko that she was a clone without all the feelings for Tenchi that she usually has, I also programmed a little bit of Ayeka into the hypnosis program."

"Washu how could you do that to Ryoko." Sasami scolded the scientist.

"What you don't realize is that the program that I created was made with the help and acceptance of Ryoko herself. She chose this and now that Tenchi is giving signs of regretting his choice, the programming will slowly fade away. For a quicker return to the 'Old Ryoko' all Tenchi has to do is tell her he wants the 'Old Ryoko' back. But I don't think that will happen soon so we created this back-up plan."

"So there never was a clone, the real Ryoko has been here the entire time?" Washu nodded. "Will Ryoko remember all that has happened? Will she ever be the same Ryoko as before?"

"Well Sasami truth be told, I don't think Ryoko will ever be the same as before, but I do think that she will get really close. With any real luck what we'll end up with will be a combination of the 'Clone' and the 'Real' Ryoko."

"So you mean the real Ryoko and Ayeka have been getting along without fighting over Tenchi all this time?" Washu nodded in response.

"Yes, but Sasami you must remember that some of Ryoko's feelings towards Tenchi have been suppressed so it stands to reason that once the programming wears off the fighting over Tenchi will return."

"Well, at least they're getting along right now."

"Yes, I'd have to agree with you there. Who would have thought that the first crown princess of Jurai would be skinny dipping with the galaxy's most wanted space pirate?" Washu commented as she watched the two friends playing in the water like two young children.

"But what about her powers? Why couldn't she summon as much power as before?"

"Because, in order for the programming to stick we had to override the gems influences. You see, the gems act as a sort of memory bank for Ryoko so to prevent the gems from erasing the programming the gems had to be nullified, thus Ryoko's lack of power. Now that the real Ryoko is back her powers are back."

Sasami listened only half interested as she watched Mihoshi and Kiyone join her sister and Ryoko in the lake.

"Washu, do you think I can go and join them, it looks like so much fun!" Sasami said unsure.

"How 'bout we both go and join them?" Washu said as she took her adult form.

Sasami stood; surprised by the change. As she began to form the words to the question, Washu answered.

"Why right?" Sasami nodded her head. "Because its about time. Ryoko has matured enough to want me as her mother; I think it only fair if I actually looked the part. I mean it is silly having someone that looks like Ryoko calling someone that looks the same age as you "Mom"." Again Sasami nodded. "Well let's go!"

Sasami ran for the lake, shedding clothes just like she had seen her sister.