Bond? What Bond??

Ryoko silently slipped into Tenchi's room the next morning; quietly she watched his peaceful slumber just like she had months ago. Smiling down at her dearest love's face Ryoko deliberately kept her distance. Hovering just this side of the ceiling the only part of Ryoko's body that was visible inside Tenchi's room was her face. Ryoko had forgotten the pleasure of simply watching Tenchi sleep. It felt like years had past since she had felt the overwhelming rush of emotion each time he was near. But, just as with Zero so to did this latest merger give Ryoko a little more insight into herself. And while taunting and teasing Tenchi was fun it was no longer the driving need that it had been.

Suspended in semi-sleep something alerted Tenchi about Ryoko's presence. The same familiar warmth spread through his body as he felt her presence enter his room. Not as close as she use to be, but nonetheless she was in his room again watching over him, his nightly guardian. Not wanting to drive her away Tenchi simply basked in the warmth that her presence provided, while feigning sleep.

"Well Tenchi, I'd better go help Sasami with breakfast, seeing as Princess Prissy Pants had too much fun last night and is still sleeping off the side affects of our late night drinking binge. Geez, who knew she could pack that much away?" Ryoko quietly spoke from her transparent position.

Tenchi snickered to himself at the mental image Ryoko's mind flashed of Ayeka becoming drunk in an attempt to out drink Ryoko.

"Well I gotta go. See you when you wake up…" and in a barely audible voice Ryoko added, "my love." Having said her piece Ryoko teleported to the kitchen.

Tenchi felt the warmth of Ryoko's presence leave him before he realized he was alone again. Opening his eyes Tenchi shot from his bed with more excitement then he had intended and landed flat on his face with a loud thump. His dreams had bonded him to Ryoko and while she had hovered over him, he had tested out this new bond. Feeling her presence and seeing through her eyes had been a new and curious experience. Seeing himself through Ryoko's eyes made him feel a little humble, but also very secure in his position in her life and heart. Lifting himself from the floor Tenchi gathered his thoughts.

"Well seems I'm a cross between Don Juan, Benjamin Brett, Jett Li, Jackie Chan, Chow Yon Phat and Prince Charming. How I'm ever going to live up to all that I have no idea." Tenchi walked over to his mirror and studied himself. He definitely didn't see it. All he saw was what he always saw, the same confused, bumbling, shy guy he'd always been. Still standing and staring at his reflection Tenchi tried his darndest to reconcile the two different vision of himself. Ryoko saw a handsome, strong, agile Adonis. While all he saw was a scruffy, scraggly, boyish, wiry, occasionally klutzy not-quite-so-average young man. "So much for taste." Tenchi joked to himself. Brushing aside his insecurities Tenchi set about beginning his day.

Down in the kitchen Ryoko, while in the middle of helping Sasami set the table, simply stopped dead in her tracks and started zoning out. "Yohoo, Ryoko! Wake up!" Sasami waved her hand in front of Ryoko's face in order to wake up the now catatonic space pirate from her trance.

"Huh!?!" Shouted the startled pirate who jumped back from the intent stare of the little princess.

"Ryoko, what's wrong are you okay?" Concern filling Sasami's voice and shadowed her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine just a little distracted."

"Well, okay. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, its just…Sasami have you ever… I mean did you ever… Oh forget it!" Frustrated Ryoko busied herself with her daily chores having taken a liking to helping around the house after her little change.

"What's up with her?" Questioned a yawning Ayeka.

"I don't know; she just started swaying in the breeze. I don't think she's been getting much sleep in the past couple of days." Sasami whispered to Ayeka.

"Well, I certainly have no idea how it's possible for her to not get any sleep with the amount of sake she drank last night. She drank enough to put a whole fleet of Jurai's finest into detox for a month."

"She practically drank herself stupid."

"I heard that princess, and no I didn't drink myself stupid. To tell you the truth Sasami the person standing next to you did." A sly grin slowly spread its way across Ryoko's face, infuriating Ayeka to no end.

"Ayeka help me finish setting the table. Ryoko you go tell everyone that breakfast is ready. Okay?" Sasami spoke to both as a mother would to her two bickering children.

"Fine I'm outta here." Ryoko said as she turned on her heel.

"Good riddance." Ayeka said as she marched towards the kitchen.

Sasami stood in the now empty dining room sighed then shook her head.

Entering the lab Ryoko searched around for Washu, occasionally calling for her. Finally finding Washu seated on her floating pillow seemingly talking to thin air Ryoko approached her.

"Well, rather than invading my daughter's mental privacy like I did Tenchi's how's about we ask her? Huh? What do ya' think?"

"Mom? Who are you talking to?"

Startled by the close proximity of Ryoko's voice Washu threw out her hands to save herself from falling off of her pillow. Turning to Ryoko Washu noticed that Tsunami was no longer visible.

"Mom?" Ryoko's voice now carried a worried tenor.

"Oh, no one dear. Just you know… myself again." Ahem. Washu cleared her throat and turned to glare at the last spot Tsunami had occupied. "I was just…Ryoko I have a question for you?"

"Uhmm, okay mom I'll try and answer it for you." Ryoko was confused by the change in the elder woman's attitude.

"Well, I was wondering has anything odd happened to you recently?"