The Traveler's First Day

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Tenchi character Pioneer does. Matt is my character however and if you would like to use him please obtain my permission first.

Ryoko sat up and shook her head clearing away the last of a disturbing dream she couldn't quite remember. Looking down from her rafter Ryoko saw Sasami staring intently out the glass doors, her body rigid, locked in fascination. "What's so interesting," Sasami nearly jumped out of her skin ask Ryoko phased next to her.

"Oh, Ryoko, It's only you," breathed the young princess," I was watching the man that came home with you last night, he's really good." Sasami turned her attention back to the deck and Ryoko's gaze followed, looking at the traveler her eyes widened in shock.

Gone were the cap and sunglasses, the morning sun shone across his smooth handsome features and glinted off those strange eyes of his, but most shocking was his hair, the night before it had seemed dull brown, without luster, now though with the sun smiling down it flashed golden in the morning light. Also absent was the black shirt leaving bare the contoured tightly defined muscles of his chest. In his hand was the serpent handled katana the thin blade gleaming in the sunlight. Ryoko's breath left her as she saw him start to move, up came the sword over his head and then with utter precision he proceeded to spin and flip the sword around his body in a show of complete mastery. This completed, he proceeded into an intricate routine of strikes and blocks. The display continued for several minutes more attracting additional spectators in the form of Mihoshi and Ayeka, the former staring in wide eyed wonder, the latter snorted in disinterest after a few moments and turned away. In an instant it was over as the stranger slid his sword into it's scabbard and pulled a black shirt over his head. Smiling, in seeming satisfaction, he headed back into the house looking up just in time to see the onlookers scatter in flushed embarrassment, only Ayeka stood there as Matt entered the house. With a nod of his head he greeted Ayeka, "Good morning mistress." Head held high Ayeka snorted regally and strode into the kitchen. Scratching his head Matt shrugged and took a drink of water from a bottle out of his backpack. "Women," he muttered.

"Good morning Ayeka," greeted Sasami as Ayeka shut the door to the kitchen, "Did you see him just now Ayeka, isn't Ryoko's new friend good?"

"Yes Sasami, I was standing right there, but Yosho and Tenchi are still better. I don't see what all the fuss is about, he was just showing off," Ayeka said frowning at Sasami, "I don't like him just showing up like that, out of nowhere, late at night. Leave it to Ryoko to bring home more trouble."

"That's not very nice Ayeka, Matt came along way to visit the shrine, and he's really nice, he promised to teach me some American dishes while he's here," countered Sasami, and then in a scolding tone, "And what's he going to think about us Jurians if you keep being mean to him?"

"That is no the point Sasami," snapped Ayeka, "you just be careful around that man." With that Ayeka opened the door to leave and walked face first into Matt's chest, bouncing back, arms flailing till she caught herself on the counter. I a smooth, easy movement the visitor caught Ayeka by the shoulders steadying her.

"Oops, sorry mistress, you ok," asked Matt looking into her ruby eyes. Ayeka's eyes narrowed as she pushed him away striding angrily out of the kitchen.

"I'll be up at the shrine Sasami," she threw back over her shoulder as she walked towards the front door. Matt waved to Sasami, who smiled, and walked rapidly out of the kitchen to follow Ayeka. Sasami shook her head and went back to her dishes.

"Wait please mistress," Matt called as he caught up to the rapidly moving princess, "I was hoping you could show me to the shrine."

"Ugh, fine, follow me sir," mumbled an irate Ayeka. Not even looking back she continued toward the stairs.

Ayeka kept her eyes on the stairs as the two ascended to the shrine, Matt on the other hand, looked around constantly taking in the beauty spring brought to the region. As he started to whistle an off key tune Ayeka angrily glanced at him, looking back he stopped and spoke, "You don't like me very much do you mistress?" Ayeka stopped dead in her tracks and turned to stare at him. Her eyes took on a dangerous glint as she spoke.

"If you must address me by title at least get it right, I am Crown Princess Ayeka of the Jurian empire," she said haughtily holding her head high in disdain. Matt merely bowed to her.

"My apologies Princess, I meant no disrespect," Matt said as he straightened, "But that is not the source of your antagonism."

"The source of my antagonism," Ayeka growled, "Is that you appear unannounced, walking in in the dead of night as if it is nothing unusual and expect us to cater to you. Further more you have told us nothing about yourself, not even your last name." Ayeka turned and huffed continuing the ascent. Matt stood in place a moment in contemplation before catching up to Ayeka.

"Very well princess, my full name is Matthew Aaron Carson. I came to Japan to have a sword made for me as per my master's instruction, and to continue my training. Also I am interested in the occult. So when I found out the history of Misaki shrine I had to come. As for being unannounced this place isn't listed in most tourist guides otherwise I would have called first. And finally the reason I showed up so late is due to my stupidity for napping far to long on the path," the last of this said as the pair crested the last few steps. Tenchi was there sweeping the walkways, and Ayeka continued to walk up to him while Matt stopped at the top of the stairs and surveyed the scene. The shrine dominated the site with a smaller office to the side, the whole thing looked to be at least 500 years old.

"No older than that," Matt mumbled to himself as Tenchi approached.

"Welcome to Masaki shrine," Tenchi greeted, scratching his head, "I really don't know what to say, nobody ever comes way out here. Let me go tell Grandpa he'll be able to tell you more than I can."

"Thank you," said Matt quietly as Tenchi headed over to the office where his Grandfather spent most of his time.

"Grandpa, that traveler I was telling you about is here," Tenchi called kneeling at the office steps, not getting a response Tenchi tried again, "Grandpa you have a visitor." The office door slid open and Yosho stepped out fixing Tenchi with a commanding stare.

"Tenchi what is this about," Yosho demanded surveying the scene, Tenchi before him, Ayeka halfway up the path to the shrine, and then he straightened when he saw the visitor standing at the top of the stairs. Yosho reached out and took a measure of this man before him, pushing up his glasses Yosho walked across the shrine pathways, ignoring Tenchi and Ayeka, coming up to the traveler and looking him straight in the eye. The young man held his gaze a moment before bowing from the waist in respect.

"Greetings master, I come seeking knowledge of the shrine and its environs," said the stranger with utmost respect, "My name is Matthew Aaron Carson student to master Ryu Tsutargi." this said Matt stepped back, once again holding his gaze level with the old priest. Yosho continued to look into Matt's strange eyes, noting the flash of green around his pupil, before he spoke.

"You are welcome here student of Tsutargi, allow me to show you the shrine and relate to you its history," Yosho said leading the man into the shrine, "Tenchi after you finish with the paths you have to sweep the stairs." Tenchi thinking himself forgotten jumped up and ran for the stairs broom in hand. Ayeka giggled and went with Tenchi to help him with the stairs, glad to be rid of the traveler, Yosho could deal with him.

Two hours later, finally done sweeping the long stair case, Ayeka and Tenchi climbed the stairs back towards the shrine. On thier way up they passed Matt, who walked past them seeming lost in thought, and didn't even acknowledge their presence. Once back at the shrine the pair found Yosho sitting on the office steps looking out over the landscape, only when Tenchi's shadow crossed him did the old priest look up. "What's wrong Grandpa, you look just like Matt did going down the stairs," said Tenchi, "He didn't do anything did he?"

"No Tenchi, he 'didn't do anything', it's what he had to say and who he is that has me thinking," said Yosho cryptically.

"What do you mean sir," said Ayeka speaking up.

"I will tell you on our way to practice, come Tenchi," said Yosho standing up. Together the trio headed to the small clearing nearby that served as Tenchi's training ground, "That man is very dangerous Tenchi."

"Why do you say that Grandpa, Ayeka was telling me he was showing off a sword routine this morning, but even if he is good no one here should have anything to worry about from an average person," Tenchi said as they walked.

"Silly boy," Yosho scolded, "Matt is a weapons master, a student of a style so deadly and dangerous, it's teachers were expelled from Japan and most of the East for that matter. His master was the last one in Japan found and deported to America well over fifty years ago."

"What makes the style so deadly Grandpa, I mean all martial arts teach weapons use," questioned Tenchi.

"I do not know Tenchi, I have never seen the style in use before, but I have seen the results," Yosho said as the small group turned off the stairs onto the small path, "During the World War II a main reason the Americans feared storming Japan was in part to this mans teacher, with only his sword he killed over two hundred American soldiers in broad daylight and escaped unscathed. After the Japanese surrender the government feared students of the style would take over so, with the help of the major martial art schools, they were systimatically found and sent into isolation at the four corners of the earth. Ryu Tsutargi is the last one left alive who knows the style, and now it seems this young man."

"If his master was kicked out why would Matt come to Japan then," asked Ayeka.

"From what I know, when weapons masters have completed their training they are sent to Owari, where special smiths live, to have a sword crafted to the wielders specifications," Yosho said when they entered the clearing.

"He has his sword, so why is he still in Japan, better yet why did he come here," questioned Ayeka worriedly.

"I'm not quite sure Ayeka, but his reason for coming here has nothing to do with martial arts, he's looking for something else," Yosho answered cryptically, "but the answers he wants are not at Misaki shrine."

Ryoko lay on the couch face down trying to figure out what to do when she heard the door open. Looking up she saw the traveler walk in and take a seat opposite on the couch.

"Afternoon," Matt greeted, "Wow do you ever look bored." Ryoko stared at him for a moment, considering whether or not she should just phase away. Deciding it wasn't worth the energy Ryoko merely grunted his way, "What would you know about it."

"Depends, you want to talk about him," he asked grinning back. How does he do that, Ryoko thought to herself, sitting up.

"I'd rather not," Ryoko said dismissively turning away.

"Some times it helps to talk about your feeling, especially to someone who is neutral," he said in all seriousness, "you know get it off your chest."

"You can't help me, no one can," Ryoko sighed, Nobody but Tenchi anyways.

"You really do have it bad, but is he truly the one for you," Matt said leaning forward looking into her amber eyes.

"Of course he's the one," Ryoko shouted, "Tenchi's the first person I've ever felt about like this."

"Listen to yourself," said Matt in neutral tones, "How can you know its true love or a simple crush if you've never had a serious relationship before."

"You don't know anything," Ryoko continued to raise her voice, "I love Tenchi, and Tenchi loves me!"

"Doesn't look that way to me," Matt said still in a neutral tone of voice, "Last night he was doing everything he could to just to get out of your embrace." Ryoko snarled and was about to lunge for his throat, when he looked her directly in the eye. Ryoko blinked and found herself sitting on the sofa all thoughts of violence gone. What just happened, Ryoko frowned trying to figure out how he had stopped her.

"It's all Ayeka's fault, she's always coming between Tenchi and me," said Ryoko her temper flaring at the thought of the stuck up princess.

"But if Tenchi really did love you wouldn't he just tell you and end the squabbling," Matt asked still looking her directly in the eye,

"Tenchi's too nice to hurt anybodies feelings, even Ayeka's," Ryoko countered.

"I don't buy that, he's just fickle," returned the swordsman keeping eye contact, "Tenchi is just too immature to make a choice."

"Oh yeah, and if you were in his place who would you pick mister know it all," Ryoko sniped, just to see his reaction.

"I don't know either of you that well, but from the cold shoulder I've gotten from Ayeka thus far I would have to choose you," This said with a grin, "At least you'll talk to me."

"Well your not Tenchi, so it doesn't really matter what you say," Ryoko mumbled a slight tremor in her tone.

"No I'm not Tenchi, but at least I'm open with how I feel," Matt said softly, "Ryoko I think you need to realize that all three of you are going to keep up this dance forever, unless you examine your feelings and are honest, to yourself at least, about this relationship."

"Why are you saying all this to me," Ryoko asked almost in tears.

"Because your not happy Ryoko, and you deserve to be," this spoken is soft low tones as he rose to his feet and walked toward the glass door.

"Wait," Ryoko called, not knowing why she did, "Do you really think I'm just fixated on Tenchi?"

"He let you out of that cave Ryoko, but that doesn't mean he took you into his heart," said Matt coming back towards her letting her lean against him as she started to cry. A few minutes latter she looked up at him with a tear streaked face, "You have to tell me how you get into someone's mind like that," she said trying to smile.

"I don't, I just listen to what your heart has to say," he shrugged. Yeah sure, Ryoko thought to herself.

"It's the truth really," he said innocently. Now knowing something was up Ryoko dug deeper, she could glean his secrets too. What about the time he rescued me from Kagato, she brought the memory to the surface on purpose, remembering how Tenchi had saved them all that day.

"He said he wouldn't forsake anyone of you girls, no just you Ryoko," Matt responded.

"Aha, so you can read peoples thoughts," Ryoko exclaimed in triumph.

Tenchi and Ayeka headed back to the house, Tenchi sporting a new bruise on his thigh to complement the one he had received yesterday. This new level of training required a lot of focus and Tenchi felt preoccupied with the revelations about their guest. Tenchi kept wondering how his skills would measure up in competition with Matt's unknown style. Somehow in his mind a conflict seemed inescapable, so he decided to ask Ayeka, seeing as how she had seem him practicing this morning.

"I think you would still win lord Tenchi," Ayeka said after a moments thought, "Jurian sword technique is known only to the royal family for a reason. Even if his style is deadly, he knows nothing about Jurian sword fighting. Besides Tenchi-Ken would cut right through that sword of his."

"Thanks Ayeka, still I wouldn't want to fight him, but I keep having this feeling he's challenging me in some way," said Tenchi as the two approached the house. The evening sun flashed of the water and the glass door, blinding both of them as they entered the house. As Tenchi blinked away the dots in his vision heard Ayeka gasp next to him. As his vision cleared his jaw hit the floor at the site before him. Ryoko had her arms around Matt the way she always held Tenchi, one arm around his waist the other his opposite shoulder pressing herself tight against the swordsman. The part the was unfamiliar with the way Matt returned the embrace one powerful arm just beneath hers stroking her back, the other on her neck hold her close as the two shared a long passionate kiss. Tenchi felt his vision blur, he turned to the equally stunned Ayeka and then saw the floor rushing up to meet him. He never felt the impact as he hit the floor with a thud.

Authors note:

I know I'm going to get flamed for this, so I feel the need to explain myself now. During the OVA when ever Ryoko talks about how she feels about Tenchi it's always "Never felt like this before," or "First time anyone has ever done this for me," type stuff. Tenchi is the first person to ever treat Ryoko like a person. That coupled with Ryoko's apparent lack of life experience outside of Kagaoto's control it's easy to see why she might think she's in love with him. My guess is that if anybody were willing to love Ryoko openly she could easily fall for them because Tenchi is, as Matt puts it, fickle. So what do you think so far? and in case your wondering I still have lots of suspires in store. Does the traveler really read minds? Why did he come to Misaki shrine? What's the deal with those strange eyes? Who would win in a fight between Matt and Tenchi? These questions and more to be answered in the next chapter.

Smack54