Authors note: Again, like all disclaimers, I do not own the Tenchi series. They are © to their owners.
"I love you, Ryoko-Chan.." Sympathy. It was all out of sympathy. Ryoko knew it, or did she? Her eyes widened, and she gave him a bewildered look. She didn't exactly know whether to believe him or not. Most of the time his feelings were kept away, he expressed no feeling at all to her, nor Ayeka.
"You didn't mean that! You said that because you feel sorry for me, Tenchi-kun!" Jumping to conclusions. Maybe that would get him to confess that he really loved her. What better way to get it out of him than that?
"Ryoko-chan, Would I lie to you?" He had a point. He had never lied to her before. But why should believe him when she just told him to say that? She was confused.
"How can I be so sure you're not lying to me now?" The gaze she gave him was heartbreaking. She leaned back, and unlocked the embrace, all she could've done was stare at him. Tenchi stared at her, and brought her into his arms again.
"Ryoko-chan. I love you, and I don't mean that out of sympathy." Should she believe him? He needed to prove his love for her. But how?
"Prove it. Show me that you love me, Tenchi-kun. I don't believe you.. " Ryoko gave him a devilish, somewhat innocent grin. Finally, a way for him to prove it!
Tenchi didn't need a second invitation. He tilted his head forward, and kissed her. When they pulled away fromthe kiss, both of them were red in the face, and looking away from each other.
"Well.. That proves it. For now." Ryoko laughed devilishly, and phased out of the bathing area, leaving Tenchi in awe. All that for just "For now"? What was she up to this time?
"Minna-san! Dinner time!" As usual, Ryoko was the first person to be sitting at the table. Everything was all back to normal, which everyone else though, except for Ayeka. Everyone gathered around the table, and waited for Sasami to bring the food in.
"So, Ryoko-san? How'd everything go with Lord Tenchi-kun?" Little Washu whispered , nudging her daughter.
"Okaasan, Quiet! Not now!" Ryoko got red in the face again, and nudged her mother back. Ayeka stared at Ryoko and Little Washu blankly. What were they talking about?
"Dinner is here!" Sasami put down a big plate of fried shirmp, noodles, rice, carrots, ect. ect. onto the table with a light thud. All but Ryoko had started eatting vigorously.
"Where's Lord Tenchi-kun, Ojousan?" Little Washu managed between a mouthful of noodles and a bit of tea.
"He should be here by now. What's taking him so .. " Tenchi walked through the door, and sat down at the table. ".. long." Ryoko smiled widely and started to eat, herself.
"Sorry I'm a little late, Minna-san." Tenchi rubbed the back of his head, and grinned quite nervously. He didn't want to hint out what had just happened between him and Ryoko.
"It's okay, Lord Tenchi-kun. We've just started." Little Washu again, while chomping down shrimp. Luckily for him, Ryoko and Ayeka didn't start arguing during the first five minutes of the meal. At least that was a relief.
"Oh! That's good, at least I didn't miss anything." Everyone ate, and enjoyed their meal like every other day of the week. Ayeka on the other hand, was as silent as a mouse. She didn't even look up at Tenchi or anyone else during dinner. Maybe it was because of what Tenchi had said to her?
Dinner ended, and everyone helped Sasami wash the dishes. Ayeka was shooting glares at Ryoko from time to time, which she didn't seem to notice. "Maybe it was just a stressful day for Tenchi, that's it!", Ayeka thought. She couldn't've been more wrong.
The evening was very peaceful, the breeze giving an even more comforting mood. The moon glowed, giving the only light in the forest, and outside the Masaki Residence. As always, Ryoko sat on the roof and stared at the sky. What a day. Who wouldn't be happy?
"I think today was absolutely crazy, Ryoko-chan." Tenchi made his way up to the roof just moments earlier. Ayeka had fallen asleep, allowing Tenchi to sneak up onto the roof.
"What? You think it's crazy that a Space Pirate like myself can love someone?" Ryoko smiled, closing her eyes, her hair waving with the wind.
"No. You were just sudden, that's all." Tenchi sat down beside her, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Ryoko leaned her head aginst his chest, and sighed.
"Gomen-nasai, Tenchi-kun. I should've waited." Tenchi could've sworn he heard her giggle, but it matter to him at all. Ryoko wrapped her arms around his waist in a gentle embrace. Finally, she got what she wanted. She didn't have a care in the world.
"I love you, Ryoko-chan." Hearing those words made her heart skip a beat. A night with Tenchi. Who could want more than that?
"I love you too, my Tenchi-kun." Both of them did not know that Ayeka had woken up, and had followed them. Of course, she wasn't dumb enough to go onto the roof. She kept herself on the balcony below the roof. Hearing those words, she slumped to the ground. She cried.
End of Chapter 3