Author's Note: It's me again! ^_^ Usual disclaimer. I don't own the Tenchi Series. Enjoy the chapter!
"Good-bye, Tenchi-kun." With that, she lept drectly away from Tenchi, as far as she could get without him catching her. She knew she was doing the right thing. She was just Ayeka, right
"Ayeka-san! NO!" Tenchi was too late, she was just meters from hitting the ground. He had started running as soon as she jumped. He knew that he wouldn't've made it even if he had started when he saw her prepare for the jump.
Out of nowhere, Ryoko phased under Ayeka, and caught her! Tenchi stopped running, and stared at Ryoko blankly. No once did Ryoko ever think about saving Ayeka from a near-death experience. Ryoko set Ayeka down on her back, she had fainted during her fall. Ryoko stood back up, and crossed her arms. She huffed, and scowled the fainted Ayeka.
"You idiot! You almost killed yourself!" Ryoko turned away from the fainted princess. Why did she care for Ayeka now? No matter. Ryoko had done the right thing. Ayeka was safe, and no harm was done to anyone. If Sasami had seen Ayeka jump from the roof, she would've gone insane!
"Ryoko-chan! Thank Kami-sama you were there to catch her!" Tenchi caught his breath. He rubbed the back of his head, and stared at the ground. He didn't know that Ayeka would pull a stunt like this, no matter what the situation was.
"I couldn't've let her die, Tenchi-kun. Who else would I fight with in the house?" Ryoko joked with him, trying to pick his mood up. She positioned her hands at her hips, and stared at the pale Ayeka. She couldn't help but smile. Alright, she did care for Ayeka, she wouldn't admit it to anyone in the house, not even her own mother.
"Ryoko-chan, Arigatou. I wouldn't've made it in time." That was true, Tenchi was on the other side of the house. There was no physical way that Tenchi would've made it in time to catch her.
"Come on. Lets get her inside." Ryoko scooped Ayeka into her arms, and started to walk back to the house. Tenchi caught up with her, and opened the door.
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"Tenchi-kun! Ryoko-san! What happened to Ayeka?!" Sasami ran towards the two carrying Ayeka up to her room. Of course, Tenchi and Ryoko both knew that Sasami would do this. Ryoko slipped Ayeka into Tenchi's arms, and floated to Sasami, who was at the end of the staircase.
"She just fainted of exhaustion. You know how busy Juraian Princess are, Sasami." Ryoko gave Sasami a reassuring smile. Ryoko couldn't've told Sasami that Ayeka had tried to commit suicide, that would've been horrible news. Sasami would've cried all day.
"Oh. Is she going to be alright?" Sasami gave Ryoko a sad look. Oh, that look could break anyone's heart. Ryoko's reassuring smile became a frown. She drew Sasami in for a hug, and she stared at her.
"Of course she is, Sasami-san. I promise I wont let anything happen to her, okay?" Ryoko gave Sasami another smile. She ruffled her hair a bit, and floated back up the staircase, assisting Tenchi with Ayeka. They went into her room, and placed her on her bed.
"Well, at least she's safe." Tenchi sighed, and started to leave the room. He stopped when he saw that Ryoko had made herself comfortable in the corner.
"You go on ahead, Tenchi-kun. I'm going to stay here." Tenchi stared at Ryoko blankly, then nodded. Ryoko knew what Ayeka was going through. She needed to set her straight. (Wow, a big change in Ryoko, huh? =P)
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Night had fallen. Ryoko kept herself hidden in the corner for quite some time. She was waiting for Ayeka to wake up. Either Ayeka had regained consciousness, and had fallen asleep. Or she might have been unconscious still.
Ryoko heard a groan from Ayeka, and saw her get up, and sit on the edge of the bed groggily. That was her cue, she stepped out of the shadows, and sat next to Ayeka.
"Ryoko-san, What are you doing here? Get out of my-- " Ryoko raised a finger to Ayeka's lips before she could raise her voice. Ayeka shut her mouth, and stared at Ryoko blankly. She wondered why she was in her room this late, even at all.
"What you did today was very stupid, Ayeka-san. You almost killed yourself. Of what? Because of me and Tenchi?" Ryoko knew it was because of that. Pestering Ayeka was one thing, but being her friend is more important.
"You should know. You stole him away from me." Bringing that up again? Ayeka was being a pest, as usual. She turned her head away, and her cheeks flushed a bright crimson.
"Ayeka-san. I didn't 'steal' him away from you. You've got to understand that Tenchi-kun likes you as he does everyone else in this house. It doesn't mean that you have to start hating both of us because he chose me over you. You think about that, and don't act like this anymore. I don't want to you to be like this, anymore. Got it?" Ryoko phased back to her room, leaving Ayeka speechless. All Ayeka did was lie back down, and think about Ryoko said.
Author's note again: Well, See how Ryoko changed throughout the story? What do you think? Should I have Ryoko keep this attitude, or change it back? R&R!