Please, Just Call Me Mom
Washu's face instantly paled. She knew exactly what her daughter was insinuating when she told her that. She looked to Ayeka, but her face was only a mask of horror and grief. Why was it that all the family members she ever loved were torn away from her? And now the daughter that had been lost, but found hated her and wanted to kill her.
What am I going to do? I've got excellent sword fighting skills, but she's my daughter! Would it really please you so much to have me gone from your life? I would do anything for you, Ryoko, and yes I would willingly give my life. I just pray that it's not in vain. With a determined expression, Washu headed for the door.
"Washu! You're not really planning on going out there are you? She'd kill you!" Ayeka tried to block off the exit of the house and shove some reasoning into the scientist's head.
Tiredly, Washu sighed and tried to explain to the princess why she had to do what she going to. "This is for Ryoko. I wasn't there when she needed me, and this just my way of giving back to her. By giving her what she wants."
"Don't you think that Ryoko has the littlest bit of positive emotion towards you? Don't you think that she thinks this is the only to end the grief that she goes through? You know and I know that that's not what she needs." Ayeka exclaimed, intent on getting Washu to change her mind.
"Since when did you start caring about what Ryoko felt or thought."
"I don't, but I also don't want anybody dying in this family. This is like my home, and I couldn't bear to lose anyone, even Ryoko." Washu stared into Ayeka's crimson eyes. Her eyes shone with such intense honesty that she had to look away.
Washu opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted as Mihoshi unceremoniously staggered into the kitchen with a whimper. "I don't want anyone to die either! Who's going to die?"
Casting a glance to Ayeka's direction, Washu turned to Mihoshi. Breathing deeply she began to explain to her what was going on and prayed to anyone who was listening that she would not have to explain it to the bubble-headed officer more than once.
Instead of falling into usual wailing and hollow cries, Mihoshi let two tears flow on the side of her cheeks. "But you can't die Washu. All of us put together are what keeps this house running. We all have our qualities and abilities that make it so enjoyable to stay here. Without one of us, the cycle would be broken and slowly and surely so would our bonds."
Ayeka and Washu stood there shocked at what Mihoshi had just said. After a couple moments of uncomfortable silence, Washu sighed and replied, "What am I supposed to do? Even if I didn't go out there she would still come after me. And to answer your question Ayeka, I know that she doesn't have any emotion that could be considered positive directed at me. Believe me, I've checked her mind."
"Her mind?!? You base serious emotions such as that on what you've detected in her mind! Don't you know that what your mind tells you can't always possibly be true? It's the heart that knows what's really being felt by the person." Ayeka exclaimed, her princess-like demeanor unraveling before Washu's eyes.
"Even I knew that," Mihoshi muttered softly.
Washu glared at her for a second, but said nothing. Hmm…twice in 3 days I've heard something to that effect. But how would I know what's going on in her heart? I don't have link set up for that.
You stupid! Emotions have nothing to do with science. The only way you could possibly know what's really going on with Ryoko, is for her to tell you.
But how?
Think about it.
Great, I'm having a conversation with my mind. I'm really starting to lose it.
Igniting her sword, Washu walked towards the door. "I have made my decision. If she kills me, she kills me, but in no way am I going to harm my daughter.
"But Washu," Mihoshi called, "How would causing Ryoko to not have any family left possibly bring her happiness?"
Washu snapped her eyelids shut and walked out the door, ignoring the piece of advice given to her and got ready for the battle that would take place with her daughter.
Ryoko had been pacing in the air for the past two minutes. "I don't get it. Why do I feel nervous? This is what I need to do. This is what I have to do. This is the only way that Washu will understand what she's doing to me."
I can't feel nervous I am the space pirate Ryoko. I don't feel these types of emotions. I am incapable of them…
"But then, how was it I felt anxiety when I finally got Tenchi to take a walk with me under the stars and moonlight that one night without interruptions. I wanted everything to be perfect. I didn't want to scare him away." Smiling inwardly, Ryoko remembered how the two just talked about anything and everything and that for the first time, it seemed Tenchi actually looked liked he was relaxed with her.
But this is different! I must have gone through this plan a hundred times in my head. How am I sure of what this will prove? What will happen if something goes wrong? For all I know…no, I can't think along those lines.
Softly, not too noticeably, Ryoko felt a tugging in heart. It was as if she was trying to grasp onto something, but every time she reached for it, it would slip between her fingers. It took a couple more seconds before she realized that she was on the brink of embracing a memory.
Just a little more…I just have to reach for it a little harder…I've almost got it…just a little more…
"Damn!" Ryoko shouted in frustration. "How come I can never get them?!? Am I not good enough to see them? This is just do damn frustrating!"
Gaining back her old confidence, Ryoko cursed under her breath and yelled out for her opponent in today's battle…her mother.
"GET OUT HERE! I DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT FOR YOU TO TAKE YOU PRECIOUS TIME!" By now anger and frustration ruled Ryoko's heart and didn't leave any space for rational thinking.
Sasami was enjoying the warm rays of sunlight along with Ryo-Oki and was content with just breathing the fresh warm air that encircled her and her companion. But something was troubling the little girl, and it all had to do with a comment of a dear friend of hers.
"And Sasami, whatever I decide to do, you've got to trust me. I'd never do anything to hurt you guys ok?"
"What do you think Ryoko meant by that Ryo-Oki?" Sasami asked, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Meow!" Ryo-Oki shook her head dismally. She had no clue as to what her mistress had meant.
Sasami sighed; she had come out here to enjoy the fresh air after relaxing in the onsen. But Ryoko's last comment to her and the way that she said it bugged her. She couldn't shake the feeling that it was foreshadowing something, something bad.
"That Ryoko is a pretty mysterious person. I don't even think Washu knows what really goes on in her head."
"Meow!" Ryo-Oki agreed. Ryoko communicated with her more than she did with anyone else, and even so, many things about her were kept a secret.
Sasami sighed once again and was about to rub the cabbit's ear when she heard yelling coming from the house.
It's probably just Ryoko and Ayeka arguing again. Wait! If they're arguing, then that means that Ryoko has finally decided to return home! And since she's home, she'll be hungry and I get to actually cook a meal with no more leftovers.
A large grin covered the young princess's face as she ran toward the house to greet the pirate.
Tenchi's head jerked up. I could have sworn I heard something. He stopped what he was doing and lifted his head up in concentration, trying to grasp at the familiar sound that he had sensed just moments before. Frustrated, Tenchi sighed after coming up unsuccessful.
"There it is again. It sounded like…It sounded like Ryoko screaming. Oh well, she must be off fighting with Ayeka again." After a moment's silence, Tenchi let what he had just said sink in.
"Wait a minute! Ryoko's home! Finally, Now I get to apologize to her for the other day." Instinctively, a cold sweat came up on the farm boy. Wait a minute, Ryoko seemed really…heartbroken? Yes, that's what it was when I yelled at her. What if she's not ready to forgive me? No, I can't think like that! I don't know what I 'd do if she didn't.
"Well, I guess I better go try my luck. I just hope I can figure out what to say by the time I make it to the house." Sprinting, Tenchi made his way to house to welcome the back the mysterious member who had disappeared and returned.
Washu emerged from the safety of the Masaki house outside to face the wrath of her first and only daughter. Her shoulders her drooped in defeat and her eyes were wary of her daughter's actions. Sighing belatedly, Washu turned her grief-stricken eyes to Ryoko and said with a soft and hollow voice, "I'm here, my Little Ryoko, do with me whatever you please, but know this…I love you, I always have and I always will."
Ryoko flinched at Washu's declaration and Washu caught an unknown emotion cross Ryoko's eyes. But it disappeared as quickly as it came, not giving the scientist enough time to evaluate it.
"Yeah, whatever Washu. Same crap you've given me since we unfortunately rescued you and it's not going to change anything now. So just get your sword ready so I can kill you and get this over with. "
Just as the red headed scientist was about to reply, a shrill voice interrupted her and cut through conversation like a knife.
"I will not allow that kind of conduct in this house Ryoko. Washu is a member in this family and no one in this family is to be hurt in any way, especially by another member." Ayeka's authoritative voice boomed throughout the area.
Ryoko stared daggers at the princess allowing her voice to become cold.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the first princess of Jurai here to tell the lowly space pirate what she's allowed and not allowed to do. Well, look here princess, you are in no position 'allow' anything. Besides Washu came out here willingly. Just because she's stupid enough to come out here and face me doesn't mean that I should be blamed for anything. So if you'll excuse us, we were in the middle of something before you rudely interrupted us." Ryoko turned her back to the princess and ignited her sword. She gave Washu a look that told her to do the same.
Defiantly, Washu looked up at her daughter. "No, I will not harm you, Little Ryoko. You are my daughter and I would never do anything to hurt you."
Ryoko laughed harshly, her voice hollow and showing no emotion. "Funny how you should bring that up Washu, because if what you did to me that one night in your lab wasn't pain then I don't want know what is." Washu's face immediately became noticeably pale. By now Sasami had arrived to the house, unnoticed by the four other women.
Mihoshi, trying to comprehend what Ryoko had said, innocently asked what she meant. Chuckling darkly Ryoko replied, "Why don't I let my personal tormentor also known as Washu answer that question for you." She purposely-avoided Washu's pained, pleading eyes.
"I'm sorry Ryoko. It was an accident I didn't mean for it to happen." Those two sentences alone were enough to fill Ryoko's heart with unbelievable rage...pain Her eyes flickered a dangerous red color. The length and amount of energy cackling from the sword increased intensely.
"Accident my ass Washu! You call taking your 'beloved daughter' and locking her up all night half-naked on one of your stupid contraptions an accident?!? You call letting her feel alone and afraid for 24 hours an accident?!? You call making her experience a night of unbelievable torment in the one place where she thought she would be safe an accident?!? You call making her live through memories of killing people young and old an accident?!? You call making her call out for the one person who could save from that wrath and have her find out that she was tormenter and was there all along taping her experience like some sick freak an accident?!?" Ryoko was visibly shaking with rage now and couldn't get the thought of chopping off the head of her mother out of her mind.
The world stopped. The birds stopped chirping. The soft breeze had suddenly halted. The sweet smell of cherry blossoms turned into an intoxicating odor that must be escaped. The tension between mother and daughter was suffocating. The pain and shame that glowed from Washu's face was visible to everyone except for Ryoko. Emerald eyes locked with golden ones, and the emotions radiating from each of them clashed like no other.
Subconsciously, Washu transformed into her adult form. "I'm so sorry Ryoko! I'm pleading, begging you to forgive me. I want to be a mother to you. I want you to be a daughter to me. Don't you see it? I need you!"
But Ryoko would not hear it. Blocking out all of her mother's pleas she charged at the scientist, intent on shutting her up for good.
The distance between the two became increasingly short and the speed Ryoko was charging increased by the millisecond. Washu just stood there waiting to die at the hands of her daughter. Just as Ryoko was a mere 3 feet away from Washu, she suddenly stopped. Slowly, she turned around see Sasami screaming her name and running towards her.
"Ryoko! Please don't kill her! Please don't!" Tears were streaming down the poor girl's face. The sight alone was enough to break Ryoko's heart and her sword disappeared from existence. Sasami ran into Ryoko's arms sobbing and repeating the same line over and over again.
"You promised Ryoko. You promised me you wouldn't hurt anyone."
"I know Sasami, and I would never break my promise to you and like I told you before, you have to trust me. I would never do anything to hurt anyone. So go run and stand beside your sister. I promise this will be over soon." Ryoko comforted the little girl. Obeying the pirate's orders, Sasami ran to Ayeka and hugged her while still have tears streaming down the sides of her face.
Ryoko then turned back to Washu who had opened her eyes, surprised that she was still alive. Re-igniting her sword, she stalked menacingly towards Washu. Unknown to the women of the household, Tenchi had just appeared huffing and puffing after running back to the house. The site that beheld him when he arrived threw him into an unknown rage. There on the doorsteps were Mihoshi, Ayeka, and Sasami, all with tears in their eyes. And out in front of him was Ryoko standing behind and talking to Washu in a low menacing voice with her sword dangerously close the scientist's neck.
How could this happen? Why was Washu just standing there letting Ryoko do that to her? Why was Ryoko doing that? But all that ran through Tenchi's mind was rage. This was Ryoko's mother for Tsunami's sake! The look in her eyes was obvious to anyone who was watching that was watching that she intended to kill her.
Tenchi summoned his sword. He had to stop Ryoko.
Just a couple yards away from him, Ryoko was telling Washu of ways she could kill her.
"You know Washu, I hate you. I hate you more than you will ever know. I could kill you right now and have you out of my life for good. My misery and heartache would come to an end. Bu-" Ryoko was interrupted by the booming voice of Tenchi.
"Ryoko! Let Washu go!"
Ryoko's knees nearly buckled over by the sheer authority and power behind Tenchi's voice. But she was able to regain her composure. She slowly turned around to Tenchi and almost gasped at the rage that burnt through the boy's eyes. Was all of that directed at her? Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits and she replied to Tenchi.
"I would Tenchi, but Washu and I have some things to settle. This is between me and her so stay out of it if you know what's good for you." Ryoko's voice was low and dark and dared him to do otherwise.
"R-Ryoko, I think you better do as Tenchi says. He's got the Tenchi-ken," Washu whispered to her daughter, knowing what could happen if Ryoko didn't do as she was told."
"Shut up Washu. I've got something I really need to do and I'm not going to let these distractions get in the way of me telling you that-" Ryoko never got to finish her sentence.
What coursed through her was absolute pain…then numbness. She couldn't move her body. She couldn't even blink. She had only felt like this when…when she was being controlled by Kagato. Out in the distance, she could see Tenchi with the Tenchi-ken. Realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Then all was silent. The only thing moving in Ryoko was her mind, desperately trying to escape Tenchi's firm grasp on her body.
"Tell me what, Little Ryoko." Said Washu, the tiniest bit of hope appearing in her voice.
When Ryoko didn't answer, Washu looked up and it was then that she noticed the symbol radiating from Tenchi's forehead. Realization dawned on her and horror erupted through her as she figured out what had happened.
Looking behind her she noticed that Ryoko's golden eyes had turned a sickly green color. The sword that had threatened the life of the scientist was extinguished. She could only scream in horror at what her daughter was being put through right now.
Tenchi's heart was full of turmoil a tear trickled down the side of his cheek. He considered himself the scum of the earth right now. He was at this moment controlling one of his closest and dearest friends. When Ryoko wouldn't let Washu go, he had to do something to release her safely.
I am so sorry Ryoko. What I wouldn't give to take this moment away from you. To keep the pain away from you that I know you must be feeling right now. I am so sorry. I hope that you'll be able to forgive me.
In the background he could faintly hear Washu and the other girls yelling and screaming at him to stop. Stop what? It wasn't until then that he realized he had thrown Ryoko into a nearby tree through the power of the sword. Gently he laid her down on the grass and released his hold over her.
By the time he reached Ryoko, the other girls had surrounded her and were urging her to wake up.
Sasami, sobbing brokenly was promising Ryoko all the food she could ever eat if she would wake up.
Tenchi noticed that even though Ryoko was unconscious, her eyelids were still wide open. Gone was the sickly green shade that had once been there. Her beautiful golden eyes were returned, but what remained was the pure terror that had been there mere moments before she was fully taken over.
What was shown in her eyes was pain and realization. Before her movements could become once again restricted, she knew who was doing it. Her one and only love had taken away her freedom that she loved so much. The man she had trusted with her life had been the one to betray her.
How is it that the kind boy, which she had fallen in love with, was the one who had taken away the one thing that would be safe here…her freedom? Even now as the pirate fell way into the unconsciousness of her mind, she wondered.
Just as she was at the point of no return, a point where she would feel no more pain, shame, or betrayal, she felt a tug. It was Washu. She was pulling Ryoko from the recesses of her mind. Ryoko struggled against Washu, but it was no use…Washu's will to for her to come back was too strong, and Ryoko's will to die was too weak. She would have to come back to consciousness.
Shakily, Tenchi reached over to Ryoko's eyes and slowly closed her one of her eyelids. How could I have done that to her? Just as he was about to close the other, Ryoko's head shot up.
Confusion filled her eyes, but as the seconds passed remembrance of past events made itself known on her eyes. Her eyes became cold, letting no emotion become present. She whipped her head in Tenchi's direction, pointedly ignoring the other girls.
"How could you Tenchi? I trusted you! You were never supposed to hurt me! Even if you didn't love me, I had hoped that you at least liked me. You took something away from me that I held very important in my heart…my trust for you." Ryoko's bellowing voice had now come to a soft broken whisper.
"Ryoko I'm sorr-"
"That's all you people ever say! Ryoko, I'm sorry for this. I'm sorry for that! I don't want to hear anymore of your damn excuses or fake apologies! I trusted you more than anything in this world Tenchi. I loved you for Tsunami's sake. I wish - I wish that Washu had never created me. Maybe then, I wouldn't have to live with the pain and turmoil that I go through every waking minute of my life because of you."
"But Ryoko-"
"Don't 'but Ryoko' me. Damn you Tenchi. Damn you all. I intend to get rid of this pain, the only and best way I know how."
'Loved'? What did she mean by that?
Tenchi had never felt so heartbroken in his life, except for the death of his mother. But at the same time he feared for his life. The gleam in Ryoko's voice and the pain in her heart and soul were expressed through her voice, and it was enough to knock him over. He wouldn't have blamed her for killing him. But what happened next was what he least expected.
Ryoko disappeared.
Ryoko stood in front of the cave. Yes this had to be done. With tears in her eyes, she did what she had condemned of other people her whole life.
Back at the house, Washu was overcome with an overwhelming pain. Calling Ayeka over, she gasped out, "RYOKO…CAVE…GO!"
Ayeka paled and ran as she could to the cave as quickly as her legs would carry her. What she found when she made it there was enough to make her scream. There on the entrance of the cave, lay Ryoko with blood seeping through her stomach.
Tears brimmed in Ayeka's eyes as she made her way to Ryoko. Shaking her, she begged her to wake up.
"Wake up Ryoko. You can't die on me now! We still have to fight over the last piece of fish at lunch. We still have to watch our soap operas together! You can't do this to me, you hear! You still have so much to do in you life!" Tears chased each other down Ayeka's cheeks.
So slightly that she missed at first, Ayeka saw movement in the pirate's eyes. Looking up, Ryoko gave the princess a pained smirk. "Well, well well-" Ryoko coughed up some blood. "I honestly didn't think y-you c-c-cared princess."
"Of course I care you stupid demon. You can't die on me like this Ryoko!" She was now openly sobbing onto the demoness's dress. Shakily, Ryoko lifted her hand to Ayeka's cheek to wipe away a tear.
"I'm sorry Ayeka, please don't cry." And with that Ryoko's eyes shut and her hand fell limply to the ground.
