Ayeka let out a sigh and curled up on the hard floor of her box and bit her lip as it started to quiver. She'd been in here for what she estimated to be a day and was starting to notice her hunger and thirst, yet there was no relief in sight. She then thought of the conversation Tenchi had with Washu yesterday. Was it true? Was it true what he had told Washu? Was this what Washu had intended? Ayeka closed her eyes and buried her face in her arms and let the tears of anger fall. She wanted out of this cramped prison and she wanted out now. Her sister was worried about her and Washu was reluctant to let her out. Why? Had what she said about Ryoko upset her that much?
"Having fun, princess?" she heard the scientist chuckle. Ayeka sat up so quickly that she slammed her head against the roof of the box and resorted to rubbing her head instead of answering. She knew the scientist wouldn't hear her. She had been screaming bloody murder when she was talking to Tenchi and they hadn't heard so much as a peep. Her ears were still ringing from the echo, as well as the echoing of Washu kicking the side of the box with her feet. She then let out a small shout of surprise as the walls around her disappeared, leaving her to sit on the floor of the lab with Washu towering over her.
"Miss Washu, I have to ask, why did you do that?" Ayeka asked in a small voice.
"Because you're an idiot," Washu chortled.
"Excuse me, but I didn't ask you to insult me," Ayeka sneered.
"Well, I didn't ask you to insult me, now did I?" Washu shot back.
"Miss Washu, I would like it if you explained to me why you put me in there," Ayeka demanded as she slowly rose to her feet.
"I hear you insult Ryoko time after time, and I think I've done well in ignoring it thus far, but you went a little too far this time, princess," Washu said in a flat voice.
"I meant what I said, Washu," Ayeka spat.
"Are you going to test your luck again, princess? I mean, look where it got you the first time, and I was even being generous. I'm sure finding out that your rival is winning in this battle for Tenchi's affections could've been relayed to you in a more pleasant approach," Washu said as she sat on a floating cushion that had appeared behind her.
"It's not true. He was only saying that because she's your daughter and it would upset you otherwise. Tenchi considers other's feelings and he didn't want to upset you," Ayeka said.
"Do you really believe that, princess? I know Tenchi just as well as you do, and I know he wouldn't lie to a friend," Washu said.
"…"
"If what he said wasn't true, than…oh my! He would've been lying!" Washu said as she mocked surprise.
"I must say that your anger is misdirected, miss Washu. This isn't the first time I've referred to Ryoko as a monster," Ayeka said in a mannerly voice and ignoring Washu's attempts to upset her.
"But it is the first time you've used her to insult me, princess," Washu shouted, throwing the princess off guard. Ayeka stared at her for a moment, wondering where this anger had come from.
"I believe it is not me who you're angry with. About that 'story' you told Tenchi. What is it ab-"
"That's none of your business, Princess. If I wanted you to know, I would've told you," Washu said, cutting the princess off.
"You seem quick to dismiss it. Why?" Ayeka asked, not letting the topic go and thinking she had the scientist in a corner.
"You seem quick to ask about it. Why?" Washu shot back.
"I sense this 'story' is more than just one of your many tales, Washu," Ayeka said.
"…"
"It wouldn't happen to have something to do with Ryoko, would it?" Ayeka persisted.
"…"
"Her past, perhaps? Does she know about this?" Ayeka asked. Washu let out a long drawn out sigh and closed her eyes as she ground her teeth impatiently.
"Why, you almost make it sound as if you care, princess," Washu said in a soft yet menacing voice.
"I don't, really. I'm just curious," she said as she stuck her nose in the air.
"Curiosity killed the cat, my dear princess," Washu said. It was more of a warning than anything else.
"Washu, I am sorry I had upset you, but I'm not going to change my views of that monster woman because you locked me in a box," Ayeka said, now remembering why she was here in the first place. Washu then floated back over to her and tilted her head at the princess while staring daggers at her.
"Must you always refer to her as a monster?" Washu asked softly, the venomous tone never leaving her voice.
"She is, to me, so that's what I call her. Why is it such a bad thing for me to refer to her using the name that best fits her?" Ayeka snapped. Washu continued to stare at her for a long time before looking away with a tired sigh. She had had enough of hearing this princess belittle her daughter like this. She knew it affected Ryoko deeper than the princess could imagine, but Ryoko was never going to let that be known. "Washu, I believe you are trying to be the mother you never use to be, but I believe you could try a little harder."
"And what would you know about being a mother?" Washu shouted. Her face had twisted itself in anger and her hands were now clenched into fists at her sides while her eyes were glossy and full of tears that still had yet to show themselves. "You've never had to actually bare a child before, princess! You've never had to raise that child, knowing that you abandoned them in the first few weeks of life! You never had to experience the pain of loss as you watched your daughter being taken from you against your will, but knowing there was nothing you could do to stop it!" Ayeka stared at Washu with wide eyes and a gaping mouth as the scientist raved at her. Washu's face was almost as red as her hair and her cheeks were now getting the washing promised to them as her tears ran in fast rivers over her skin. Ayeka had never seen Washu cry and now that she has, it humbled her into silence. Washu then turned her back to the princess and covered her face with her hands, quietly sobbing while the princess stood behind her, dumbfounded.
"Washu…" Ayeka said, not knowing exactly what she was going to say. She was speechless. She had no words of comfort for the sobbing scientist and it made her feel like dirt. Everything this was the woman had done to her and put her through didn't matter to her as much anymore. It angered her, but after seeing Washu like this, she couldn't bring herself to shout at her. It was scary to see the thought-to-be independent scientist so…vulnerable. Ayeka now saw just how easy it was to hurt this woman with the wrong words and now felt she had to make it up to her for what she had said.
"I'm sorry, Washu. I didn't know it was such a sensitive subject for you," Ayeka said after a short pause.
"Whatever," Washu mumbled before disappearing from sight and bringing the force field with her. Ayeka glanced around for a moment before seeing the door to the house appear in front of her and wasted no time in taking her leave of the lab.
***
Ryoko wrinkled her brow as she felt a surge of anger and pain flow through to her by means of her and her mother's link.
Mom? she called, not understanding where this was coming from. She received no answer and it started to bother her to the point where she found herself in the doorway to the lab.
"Mom? Where are you?" she called, not seeing the little woman anywhere. She then noticed a door a little ways away and tilted her head curiously. She then glanced around before slowly making her way over to the door, knowing how dangerous it was to interrupt an experiment in the making.
"Are you in there, mom?" she called again. She could hear someone rustling around behind the door and went to open it but jumped back as the redhead flung it open.
"What is it, Ryoko?" she asked impatiently. Ryoko wrinkled her brow and tilted her head as she saw the red around her mother's eyes and the streaks on her face.
"You know I didn't come here for shits and giggles, mom. I can't sense your emotions unless you want me to, and I know what I felt. What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Ryoko asked as Washu closed the door behind her.
"It slipped. I didn't mean for you to feel that and I'm sorry," she said as she pushed past her daughter to sit at her laptop in the center of the room.
"It slipped, huh?" Ryoko asked with a small chuckle as she reached her mother's side.
"It happens," Washu said in a meek voice. Ryoko then let out a sigh and knelt down to her mother's height and forced her to look her in the eye.
"Tell me. I always told you what was upsetting me, so why can't you tell me?" Ryoko asked as she tilted her head curiously. Washu stared at her for a moment before sniffling back the tears and letting her eyes roam around the room.
"I ask you one favor first," she said softly.
"As long as it doesn't involve me being strapped to a table, anything," Ryoko said with a smile. Washu shook her head and snorted at the joke made before letting out a sigh.
"Go find Tenchi. Tell him there's more. He'll understand," Washu said before disappearing from sight and leaving Ryoko to find the dark-haired, brown-eyed boy.
***
Tenchi couldn't help but smile up at the moon as it shown down on him. He leaned against the beams supporting the roof over the porch and chuckled to himself as he remembered how happy Sasami was when she saw Ayeka. He was glad Washu had let her go but felt that things were going to be bumpy for her and the princess's friendship. Ayeka had reassured them that she was fine, but the look on her face as she left the lab told him that their conversation had a twist to it that Ayeka hadn't expected. He then shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts and turned them to the story Washu has been telling him, bit by bit. After all the girls had come to live with him, he didn't find it hard to believe this tale. A lot of odd things have happened and this only added to the growing pile. Yet, it affected him more than he had thought, seeing it had a lot to do with Ryoko, which is kind of expected when it came to Washu. He always knew there was something about Ryoko that wasn't human, but he never expected something like that. The Mass, he could accept, seeing it gave her only a human form, but this? The truth?
"The truth isn't always easy," he muttered to himself as he shuffled his feet in the dirt under his feet. Washu had assured him that she couldn't change because of the operation she had done, but it still didn't settle well with him. It was hard because he cared deeply for Ryoko, but he was only human. He had human dreams and wishes, and having a half human, half beast as a wife wasn't something that normal humans dreamt about. Then again, he didn't live what others would consider a 'normal' life. Living with all these alien woman in one household was quite an adventure.
"Tenchi?" he heard from behind him. Despite his thoughts, he had to smile as he heard Ryoko voice fill his ears. Ever since they talked, she's been more…quiet around him. As though she believed her outgoing nature bothered him. He turned around and smiled sweetly at her as she looked at the ground beneath her instead of at him.
"What is it, Ryoko? Is something wrong?" he asked, now worried because of her attitude.
"Mom wants you to come to the lab with me," she said softly.
"Oh? Why?" he asked.
"She said there's more and that you would understand," she said as she finally made eye contact with him. His heart jumped into his throat, seeing he indeed understood what Washu was talking about.
"You look upset. Why?" he asked as he reached her side.
"I found her in the lab and I know she'd been crying. I don't really want to know what she has to tell, but I know it's about my past. Something about it tells me that I need to hear this, but something tells me that it's not what I want to hear," she said. Tenchi smiled at her and rested his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him.
"Ryoko, the truth isn't always what we want to hear, but you know as well as I do that it's important that you hear her story," he said softly.
"She's told you?"
"She's told me a lot, Ryoko. Enough for me to know why you feel this way about yourself."
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, suddenly full of anger that her mother would tell Tenchi and not her.
"Ryoko, please. She wasn't comfortable in telling you until she had the story all laid out and in the open. She had no intentions of telling me, honest, but I just happened to stumble upon her room and she broke down, unable to hold it in any longer," Tenchi explained, hoping that Ryoko would understand.
"So she'd tell you and not me, huh?" Ryoko asked with a spiteful chuckle.
"Ryoko, it's not like that. Come on. Let her explain because I don't feel it's my right to tell you," Tenchi said as he led her back to the lab for the long tale ahead.
***
Washu stared out the windows of her room, like usual, and didn't hear Tenchi enter with an awe-stricken Ryoko close behind. Washu turned to see Ryoko's eyes wandering the room with a gaping mouth before resting on the crib in the corner. She then snapped her attention over to Washu herself and gave her a weird, yet curious look at her attire.
"Mom?" she asked in an uncertain voice. Washu smiled and let out a small chuckle before lowering her head and looking back out the window. Ryoko let out a huff and swiftly made her way over to the crib and shoved the curtains out of the way. Tenchi chuckled as he saw her shoulders slump in relief as she saw it empty.
"You know, I did the same thing when I first came in here," Tenchi said, still chuckling along with Washu. Tenchi stood up and stood next to her and gazed out the window with her while Ryoko continued to take in the room.
"What is this place? Why is it here? What's going on?" Ryoko asked all at once.
"Just…look, Ryoko. Don't talk, just look. Take in this room and see if anything clicks," Washu said in a slow, soft voice as she continued to stare out the windows. Tenchi let out a sigh and shrugged his shoulders helplessly as Ryoko looked to him for some sort of explanation. Ryoko did just that and examined the room, despite her eagerness to know what it this was all about and after searching for something in her memories and coming up with nothing, she turned to her mother again and took in her appearance. She couldn't fathom how this woman before her had been the same, tear-ridden midget she had bumped into only a little while ago.
"Mom, please explain," Ryoko said. Washu turned and smiled at her before taking a seat on the bed next to Tenchi, who was playing gently with the curtains that hung around the bed.
"You know, Tenchi, I never finished the story I started, but I felt I couldn't keep this from her any longer. Sorry," she said as she smiled sheepishly at him.
"It's okay, Washu. I would like to know why you wanted me here, though," he said as he looked over at her.
"I was thinking that Ryoko might find comfort with you here instead of just me. I'm afraid this will affect our relationship drastically," Washu said as she stared at her daughter, even though she was speaking to Tenchi.
"Hello! I am in the room, thank you very much. What's this all about?" Ryoko asked impatiently. It wasn't that she was mad, but she was scared. She didn't want to know what this room held as far as memories go. She now thought that her blissful existence was looking pretty damn good right about now.
"Ryoko, I promised you that I would tell you, so now I'm telling you. These feelings you've been having are inherited from your father," Washu said flatly.
"My father? The Mass?" Ryoko asked.
"No. See that tapestry on the wall?" Washu asked as she pointed to the red and black carpet on the wall. Ryoko took a deep breath as she noticed the creature in the center. This wasn't looking good.
"Don't tell me," she said in a grave voice.
"Ryoko, you weren't created at a lab and it pains me to say this, but you were never meant to be. Please let me explain…"
***
Ayeka searched the house until she was blue in the face, looking for Ryoko. She had to admit she disliked the monster woman, but after seeing Washu so upset and thinking about how Ryoko acts during their fights, she thought it best to take this out in a mannerly style. Now that she thought about it, Ryoko would always leave the scene of a fight with glossy eyes and anger in her heart. Ayeka's words hit her deeper than she had thought. She walked down the stairs and saw Sasami making her way up.
"Ayeka, have you seen Tenchi or the others?" she asked.
"No, I haven't. Why?" she asked.
"Well, dinner's almost ready. I wonder where they went," she said as she walked back to the kitchen. Ayeka thought for a moment before letting out a curious huff and walking into the table and sitting with her sister.
"So what did Washu do to you in the lab?" Sasami asked in a fearful voice. Ayeka chuckled at her and shook her head lazily.
"Nothing, Sasami. She just wanted to talk to me," Ayeka said idly.
"It took her that long to talk to you?" Sasami asked, not believing what her sister was telling her. Ayeka looked up at her sister and instantly knew that she could keep nothing from this little girl. She was her little sister and had never been able to escape the unconscious link that all siblings hold. This little girl could see right through her and they both knew it. Ayeka then let out a sigh and leaned on her arms as she lazily ran her finger around in circles on the tabletop.
"Honestly, I was kept in a small box that I couldn't even stand up in," Ayeka said with a snort in spite of herself.
"A box?" Sasami asked, trying to keep the giggles at bay. It was a silly idea and they both knew it, but Ayeka knew better. Never put anything past Washu.
"I'm serious, Sasami. I couldn't stand up and I had awful cramps in my legs afterwards," Ayeka said.
"How could she do that to you?" Sasami asked, now dropping all humor in her voice.
"I won't lie to you, Sasami. What I had said to her upset her very badly, even though I don't know why," Ayeka confessed.
"What do you mean? She put you in a box for saying something? Where is she?" Sasami asked as she stood up from the table. Ayeka looked up at her and saw the angered look on her sister's face and immediately motioned for her to sit. Sasami let out a quick, angered sigh and plopped down with her arms crossed.
"Sasami, please. I've been doing some thinking and I believe that Washu isn't as strong as she appears," Ayeka said.
"So if I say that Ryoko's a monster, she'll put me in a box too?" Sasami asked with a gulp. She didn't like that idea. Ayeka went to answer before stopping and thinking about what she had said and what Washu had told her. Washu had been right about hearing her call Ryoko a monster and she had never done anything about it before, but the second she mentioned something about her being a bad mother, she found herself in a small box for a day.
"I don't believe this is entirely about Ryoko…" Ayeka said in a slow voice as she pieced her thoughts together.
"What do you mean?" Sasami asked.
"I always call Ryoko a monster or a demon, but Washu had told me that I insulted her," Ayeka said.
"Well, she is Ryoko's mother. It's like someone calling you a monster to Mother's face. You know how she would react to that," Sasami said with a small giggle. Ayeka chuckled at her sister's innocents and nodded her head slowly. Now she really felt she had to make up for it, not only to Ryoko, but to Washu as well.
"You know, I believe that both Ryoko and Washu had problems with dealing with criticism regarding their personal lives," Ayeka said.
"No one likes to be picked on, Ayeka. No one is as strong as they would like to believe," Sasami said. Ayeka stared at her sister for a moment before chuckling to herself. It amazed her how deep her sister could be, despite her age.
"You're right. I believe it would be best to shy away from the mother and daughter of the house until this is settled," Ayeka said. Sasami nodded her head and then looked towards the door.
"I wonder where they are," she said to herself. Ayeka just shrugged her shoulders but knew very well were they were and what they were most likely discussing.
***
Tears were brimming in Ryoko as well as Washu's eyes as the scientist brought her pained story to an end. Neither one would let them fall, but Tenchi could tell that they were both struggling to keep them hidden. Ryoko was standing next to the carpet with her hand over the form of Putiko, staring at her mother with an unreadable expression on her face. Washu was sitting on the bed, staring out the windows again, trying to hold back the tears that were quivering on her lashes. She had told Ryoko about her true past and she now found that she feared Ryoko. She was scared of what she would do. If Ryoko had yelled and raved about it, she would've actually felt better, but she wasn't ranting and raving but only staring at her with unreadable eyes and a straight face. Washu let out a sigh and let her eyes roam around the room as she bit her lip before staring over at the crib in the corner before making the decision to stand up and walk over to it. She didn't know what to do with herself under that cold stare of her daughter. She peered inside and smiled slightly as she gently plucked a small doll from the blankets. She ran her fingers tenderly over the soft, velvety feeling of the Putiko doll with a thoughtful smile on her face.
"He cared for you. You were like a daughter to him," she whispered softly, talking about the beast in the tapestry and in her hands. Ryoko remained silent.
"You two would play in the main hall, oblivious to the world around you. You would ride him like a horse, seeing you were so small and he was so big. He was always gentle with you and knew when too much was too much," Washu said in a distant voice as the memories of her daughter's childhood filled her head. Silence.
"He was so worried when you got sick. He hardly knew what to do with himself, nor did I. I never left your side, not even for a moment…" Washu said, letting her voice trail off as she remembered how she had woken up the next morning. Not something she enjoyed remembering and something she would love to forget.
"You didn't want me," Ryoko mumbled aimlessly. Washu looked over at her with a deep breath and an understanding tilt of her head. This is what she had feared most, yet she knew it couldn't be avoided.
"Ryoko, please," she said as she looked away again, unable to look at her daughter's angered and pained face.
"You didn't want me. You said it yourself," Ryoko mumbled again, a slight bit in her voice.
"Ryoko, I explained it to you. I was mad and I was wrong in directing that anger towards you. It wasn't your fault and I realized that," Washu explained.
"How long did you say you ignored me and my cries? Three, maybe four weeks? No mother ignores their newborn child like that, Washu," Ryoko hissed, tears of hate and resentment filling her golden stare and dancing on her eyelashes.
"I know, Ryoko. I was wrong, but please understand how I felt. Really think about it. Say you were taken advantage of and you had a child. How would you feel? What would you do?" Washu asked as she raised her head with a wrinkle of curiosity in her brow. Ryoko turned her head away and looked at the tapestry again and let out a sigh.
"Still. That was no reason to abandon me like that," she whispered, more to herself than to Washu. Washu walked over and stood in front of her, looking at the floor.
"I know. I know I did you wrong, Ryoko. But like I told you, I realized my mistake and took you in. I loved you Ryoko, and I still do. I was stupid to think it would just go away. I hated myself for what I did. Please believe me, Ryoko," Washu explained softly. Ryoko looked back at her with an unreadable expression that caused Washu's heart to flutter with anticipation, wondering what her daughter was going to say next.
***
Tenchi didn't know what to say. He felt so awkward sitting on the bed while Ryoko and Washu had a stare down. He had no part whatsoever in this and felt his presence was unnecessary so he held his tongue as he waited for something to happen. The silence hung in the room like a poison that seemed to suffocate all of them except Ryoko. She stood with her face blank and unreadable as she stared at her mother while Tenchi quietly fidgeted in his seat. Washu was lightly shuffling her feet nervously and her face kept twisting in a silence plea for Ryoko to say something.
"Do you take me for a fool?" Ryoko finally asked, causing Washu to let out a short breath of relief, seeing the silence had been broken, but quickly wrinkled her brow in confusion upon hearing Ryoko's question.
"What?" she asked.
"You must think I'm stupid, don't you? You tell me all this and expect me to act as though nothing happened?" Ryoko asked, her voice growing in volume.
"Ryoko…" Washu said slowly, knowing the explosion was on it's way.
"You planned this, didn't you?" Ryoko asked in a hot voice.
"What are you talking about, Ryoko?" Washu asked, her own voice raising in volume. Tenchi took a deep breath and looked towards the door, wishing he had been left out of this.
"You con me into believing you were a loving mother and now you tell me this and expect me to just…accept it? You're out of your mind!" Ryoko shouted.
"Ryoko…" Washu said again, knowing there was more.
"You abandoned me! You never wanted me! Then you come back into my life and tell me that I was a cherished and loved child. How can I believe that after all that's been told to me? How am I to know this isn't just another lie? The academy was a lie. Being created in a lab with the Mass as my father was a lie. Now I can understand why people don't tend to trust you. You lie and manipulate people to get what you want. Maybe Kagato was right. I'm just a demon that was never wanted," Ryoko said, her voice trailing off by the end of her words. Washu had been staring at the floor the whole time Ryoko was yelling but lifted her head as her raves came to an end. She stared at Ryoko with a motherly, yet stern look before curiously tilting her head.
"Does this mean nothing to you?" she asked, barely above a whisper.
"Yes, it means nothing to me. You mean nothing to me," Ryoko shouted and that was all she needed. The tears she had been struggling to hold back had won the battle and now spilled onto her cheeks and pooled at the corner of her lips. Washu continued to stare at her, not knowing how she found the ability to keep a straight face. She then took a deep breath and looked over at the tapestry that hung on the wall next to Ryoko.
"I lied to you once. Why would I do it again?" she asked as she slowly walked over and around Ryoko in a slow circle before coming to a stop in front of her.
"…"
"Ryoko, I lied, yes, and I'm sorry for that. But what would you have done if I told you when we were brought here?" Washu asked.
"…"
"I told you that lie to give myself time to become reacquainted with you. You were so young when you were taken that I wasn't sure if you had remembered me," Washu said as she tilted her head to see her daughter's face.
"You know, I wish I had never met you, Washu. Everything that's been told to me…everything Kagato said…everything Ayeka said…it's all true," Ryoko said as she lowered her head. Washu let out a sigh and rested a hand on Ryoko's shoulder, not knowing how she was going to react to it. She smiled to herself as Ryoko remained as she was and tested her luck in resting her other hand on her other shoulder and persuading her to look her in the eye.
"If you believe that, than why can't you believe that I love you?" she whispered. Ryoko stared at her for a long time and blinked at her before taking a deep, trembling breath.
"Because I've known and experienced hate more than I have love," she said in a small voice.
"But not because of who you are, but what Kagato had made you out to be. To me, you're still my little girl whom I love more than life itself, Ryoko. Why won't you believe me?" Washu said, trying to open her daughter's eyes to the truth that lay in front of her.
"Because you lie," Ryoko spat as she pulled away, causing Washu to let out a sigh of defeat. Tenchi, on the other hand, wasn't about to let this happen. He stood up and calmly walked over to Ryoko and took her by the shoulders, causing her to look at him in surprise. She had totally forgot he was even there.
"Ryoko, look behind you," he said sternly. She wrinkled her brow slightly before giving in and glancing behind her.
"And what am I looking for?" she asked unenthusiastically.
"This tapestry. What do you see?" he asked, now knowing why he was there. He glanced over at Washu and saw her staring at him with a blank face, yet he knew that she thanked him for lending a hand.
"Is this a trick question?" Ryoko asked sarcastically.
"No. Tell me what you see," Tenchi said firmly. Ryoko let out an impatient sigh and looked at the tapestry for a moment before tilting her head.
"I see a king and queen…a beast attacking a soldier…and…what appears to be Washu in the background," Ryoko said.
"And what is Washu holding?" Tenchi asked, wanting to hear it from Ryoko's mouth. Ryoko let out a huff and stomped her foot before turning to face him with an aggravated look on her face.
"Tenchi, what are you getting at? It's a carpet. Who cares?" she spat.
"Ryoko, you're not thinking. She's holding a child in her arms, is she not?" Tenchi asked, raising his voice. Ryoko glared at him for a moment before looking back at the carpet and letting out a sigh.
"Yes, she is," she said in a soft voice.
"Exactly. She's holding you, Ryoko. I believe every word of Washu's story and I believe you're being too harsh on her," Tenchi said.
"And what would you know about how I feel and what I think, Tenchi? You're mother died when you were young, so you have no idea what this is like for me!" Ryoko shouted as she turned to face him again. He stared at her with a blank face and lowered his head as the memories of his mother were brought back by such harsh means. Ryoko then realized her mistake and let out a sigh as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Much like Washu does when she's irritated.
"Tenchi, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it," she said in a soft voice.
"It's okay Ryoko, but think about what you said," Tenchi said as he looked up at her again.
"Why?" she asked with an idle shake of her head.
"I never had a mother to grow up with. You may be grown, but you still have your mother. She's here, in the flesh, and telling you that you're loved, and you push her away like this? They may not have all the answers and they may make a lot of mistakes, but she's still your mother and she still loves you, regardless of who you are and what you do. You have something that I never had. I never really knew my mother, so don't take this for granted. You never know when they'll be gone, and trust me. It'll happen right when you need them most," Tenchi said in a soft voice. Ryoko stared at him for a long time before glancing back at the tapestry again with a sigh. She then noticed Washu out of the corner of her eye and looked over at her with a blank look. Her head was slightly lowered and her eyes were cast to the floor while her hands were idly playing with the belt around her waist. Ryoko looked back at Tenchi and could see the truth in his eyes before hanging her head and covering her face with her hands.
"Why do you always have to be right, Tenchi?" she whined, unable to hold back the tears any longer. Tenchi felt an urge to wrap his arms around her and comfort her tears, but looked up at Washu instead. She was staring at Ryoko with a longing in her eyes and with a quick raise of his hand, grabbed her attention. He stepped back and smiled, motioning for her to take on the task of comforting the sobbing pirate. She wasted no time in walking up behind Ryoko and resting a hand on her shoulder. She was surprised when Ryoko voluntarily turned and accepted her embrace and stroked her hair as she sobbed on her shoulder.
"I didn't mean to hurt you, Ryoko, but I couldn't avoid it. I knew this was going to happen and I feared it. I just hope that we can at least work this out so that it won't be so emotional," Washu said after Ryoko's cries died down.
"I don't know what to think anymore. I've heard so man things…" Ryoko said, but trailed off into silence.
"Than it's up to you to decide what you believe is true, and what isn't. I can't force you to believe me, but I do ask that you listen," Washu said. Ryoko pulled back and wiped her eyes before letting them roam the room before smiling to herself.
"You actually lived like this?" she asked, trying to change the mood.
"I did, and the scary thing is that I enjoyed it," Washu chuckled, taking the hint and lightening the mood a bit. Ryoko then looked back at her and wrinkled her brow as she tilted her head curiously.
"If I wasn't at the academy when Kagato kidnapped me, than what happened?" she asked. Washu took a deep breath and smiled as she looked down at her hands.
"Well, after that operation, you had returned to your usual four-year-old self. Again, it was Putiko who had brought me to my senses, but not until it was too late…"
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Sorry to leave you with a cliffhanger. Honestly. I hate cliffhangers myself, but I need time to think this out a bit so that it will make sense. R&R