1 Chapter Three
Ryoko soared above the canopy of trees, her poise reflecting her worsening mood.
Write about bad things huh?
Well, her life was just chock full of bad things.
Where to start? Could it be her history as a killing machine? Or maybe she should just take it further back and begin with being 'born' in the form of a misbegotten machine?
:: I heard that,:: muttered a displeased voice in the back corner of her mind. ::It isn't true.::
::Argh! Get out of my head!:: Ryoko thought back with venom in her mental voice, before abruptly slamming shut her end of the mental link.
Ryoko frowned as she flew above the Masaki property. Everything was bad. EVERYTHING.
She stopped short, pulling up so that her body hovered above the earth in a pseudo-standing position. The bad thoughts were coming to the surface again. She crossed her arms. Damn poetry. She didn't think too deeply for a reason.
As the air currents cooled her skin and toyed with her hair, Ryoko scanned the landscape, one fang gnawing on her lower lip. There was one thing that helped her keep those mental nasties away. It couldn't hurt to just look, could it?
She took off again and headed for the fields.
Perching in her favorite tree, Ryoko watched Tenchi hoeing the carrot rows. He had removed most of his clothing and was working in a white, tank-top- undershirt and jean cutoffs. His small but defined musculature strained as he lifted the hoe over his head and brought it back down to loosen the earth.
Ryoko smiled, momentarily distracted. Tenchi worked so hard, and at such simple tasks. But they clearly brought him such fulfillment. He was lucky that way.
Watching Tenchi had always reminded her that the bigger issues in life weren't always what mattered. When he was working, the simplicity of his actions were the focus. When he was sleeping, his innocence shone forth like a beacon in the night.
Her Tenchi.
No. Not her Tenchi. Not now, not then, not ever.
And she certainly couldn't watch him sleep anymore. Who knew what she might find these days? She shuddered at that thought.
No. Tenchi couldn't sooth her demons anymore.
***
Ryoko kicked her shoes off as she entered the house's vestibule. She wiggled her sweaty toes on the cool floor tiles and smiled in comfort. She looked at the neat line of shoes by the wall, then at her own lying where they had randomly landed. For half a second, she considered tidying them, then shrugged and floated on into the house.
Upon reaching the living room, the one-time pirate looked up at the rafter and down at the couch. The couch was more comfortable, but even though the room was empty now, the soap operas started in about ten minutes and the couch would be a crowded mess. She clutched her legal pad against her chest and chewed on her lip. She certainly didn't want any one to watch her write, and none of the girls could be counted on to respect her privacy.
Almost as summoned by the thought, Mihoshi bounced into the room looking cool in a white sundress. She dropped onto the couch, making the hem of her skirt flutter. "Hi there Ryoko," she greeted as she picked up the remote.
"Hi."
"So, what are you doing with that notepad?" the blonde asked breezily.
"It's for my hit list," Ryoko replied, sounding dead serious.
"Oh," Mihoshi replied with a nervous squeak. "I'm not on it am I?"
"Not yet," Ryoko said floating up to her rafter.
"Oh my, oh my!" the detective stuttered and turned back the television and quickly using the remote to switch it on before she did something to be added to the list.
Ryoko brushed a patch of dust off the beam and settled the pad on to her lap and toyed with the pen. She could write about anything. Anything.
She frowned. If she could write about anything, why did her head feel so empty?
She clicked the pen into readiness and touched the point to paper. Instead of words, doodles began to cover the page. A laughing chibi Washu had a chibi Ryoko tied up and seemed to be experimenting on her. Ryoko frowned at that one. Her next drawing had the Ryoko chasing after Washu with a hatchet. Now that was more like it.
Following this was an illustration of a victorious Ryoko standing on top of a hog-tied and gagged Washu.
Rather pleased, Ryoko let lose an evil sounding chuckle.
"Miss Ryoko?" asked Ayeka's sweet voice.
Ryoko looked down to see Ayeka getting up from her position on the couch between Mihoshi and Sasami. It seemed the soaps had started while she had been caught up in the creative process.
"Yes?" Ryoko asked as the princess walked around the couch, stopping directly under the rafter.
"I didn't realize you were up there. Wouldn't you like to join us on the couch? There is plenty of room," Ayeka offered kindly.
"Thanks, but I'm kinda busy here," Ryoko responded.
"But, it's your favorite show. Please come and join us?" Ayeka all but begged.
"No thanks," Ryoko said more firmly as Ayeka's shoulders fell.
"Oh Ayeka be careful!" Mihoshi called. "Ryoko's writing out her hit list!"
"Oh?" Ayeka asked with a raised eyebrow. "Am I on it?" she asked slyly, clearly trying to get a response.
"Number one," Ryoko responded automatically. "Oh, I mean, of course not Lady Ayeka," she said catching herself.
"Ryoko please, you needn't go on like this. It can't be good for you," Ayeka said in a cajoling voice.
Ryoko looked at Ayeka for a moment then smiled the barest of smiles before vanishing from sight.
"Oh Sasami! What are we going to do with her?" Ayeka asked with dismay.
***
Ryoko popped into existence above Katsuhito's writing desk, causing him to startle and spill his cup of tea down the front of his white jacket. "Miss Ryoko!"
" 'Ryoko', will do," she said watching him through narrowed eyes. "You're a mess. What ever happened to the ' You Always Need To Be Vigilant' talk you are constantly giving Tenchi?"
Katsuhito pretended to ponder this, then glided to his feet and grabbed Ryoko's wrists. Before she knew what was happening, he pivoted neatly on the balls of his feet and slammed her to the floor.
She hit with a resounding smack as she let go of the pad and used her right hand to make first contact with the floor and dissipate her falling body's kinetic energy.
"You were saying?" he asked calmly, dabbing at the tea stain with a cloth.
"Heh," she laughed getting to her feet. "That felt good. I haven't taken a high fall in a while."
"I could tell," he said. "Your form has suffered."
She cocked her head and looked at him steadily, not really minding his comment, because it was true. "Any way," she drawled. "That's not why I came all the way up here."
"So what is your reason?"
She stamped over to him loudly, each step radiating frustration. She paused nose to nose with him and stared him in the eyes. "I can't write."
"Oh?" He gave her one of his crazy-as-a-loon-shrine-keeper grins. "Did you forget to click the pen?"
"No," she roared. "The pen is fine!"
He pretended to consider. "Did you run out of paper?"
"No, I did not!" she seethed
"Then what's the problem?" he asked gently.
"I'm trying to tell you!"
"Hmmm." He stepped back, broadening the space between them. "Have a seat." He gestured to some soft cushions on the floor.
Ryoko huffed a short expulsion of breath and sat in a half lotus position while hovering three feet above one of the cushions.
Katsuhito sat on the floor in seiza and waited.
"I don't know what to say," she ground out. "You made it sound so easy."
He nodded. "It is easy when one doesn't fight it. You are trying too hard."
Ryoko just crossed her arms and grunted.
"Let me see what you have done so far."
Ryoko reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled ball of paper. Grimacing, she handed it to him.
Katsuhito carefully smoothed the paper out and looked at Ryoko's illustrations for a long moment.
"See? I told you I couldn't do it."
"Hmmm." He looked more closely at the pictures then looked back to Ryoko. "These pictures seem to tell me a story. Try to tell me the same story in words." He handed the paper back to Ryoko along with another pen.
"Now?" she complained.
He nodded and closing his eyes, slipped into a meditative state.
Deprived of company, Ryoko clicked the pen and after a long moment of thought, began to write, scribble out her words, then try again. This process continued until she almost ran out of room on the sheet of paper. Finally satisfied, she sat up straighter and flicked the pen at the priest.
"Mmm?" he asked not opening his eyes.
"I'm finished."
He opened his eyes and held out his hand.
Looking a little nervous, Ryoko handed him the paper and waited expectantly.
He cleared his throat and read the following,
"If Washu doesn't
Stop messing around with me
She will be sorry."
"It rhymes again," he said.
"Is that all you can say?" she demanded. "This is stupid." She straightened her legs and touched down on the floor. "I'm out of here."
"Wait. I have an assignment for you."
She paused.
"Write me one about sake, with no rhyming. Can you do that?"
She snorted and drifted through the wall.
***
Ryoko flew back towards the house, absently caressing her chin as she thought. That old jerk! She had come to him for help, and he had just made fun of her.
Well, she'd show him! She'd write a damn poem about sake, and shove it up his ass! She could do it! After all, sake was one of her favorite things in the world.
Maybe it would be a good idea to drink some sake, then write about it.
Her brow crinkled. Nah, that probably wouldn't work, as she tended to pass out when she drank.
"Tenchi! No! Ha ha ha ha ha! Stop it!" Came Sasami's shout from below.
Ryoko looked down to see the family van in covered in soapsuds, and Tenchi chasing Sasami around with the hose, splashing the little girl at every opportunity.
"Its cold!" Sasami shrieked as she ran to the opposite side of the van, trying to find cover.
Tenchi laughed and continued his pursuit until Sasami's ponytails were drenched and hung limply down her back.
Ryoko's lips turned down as she watched. They were having so much fun. Like the brother and sister they had legally become. She hugged herself and teleported to the roof, facing away from the two playing in the front yard. But she could still hear them. They sounded so happy. They were a happy family, just not her family anymore.
The thought of leaving crossed her mind again. But where would she go? Were all the bounties on her head canceled? In every system? Who could be sure?
Noticing that bleak thoughts were again coming upon her, Ryoko teleported back to the shrine, hoping to raise her sprits by picking another fight with the shrine keeper. To her dismay, she saw that Ayeka had come to pay her brother a visit. The pair of them sat on the front porch laughingly playing a game of checkers and reminiscing about the good old days on Jurai.
Ryoko's stomach turned when Katsuhito, lovingly told Ayeka how proud he was of her, and how perfect she was for Tenchi. Feeling like a malformed puzzle piece, Ryoko teleported away before they saw her. She didn't fit in anymore. She had no spot. It was time for drastic measures.
Ryoko appeared at the broom closet door that served as the entrance to her mother's lab. She knocked on the wood with hesitation and waited.
Nothing.
She knocked louder this time.
Again, no response.
Giving up on good manners, Ryoko tried to open the door.
Locked.
::Little Washu?:: she called mentally.
::Yes?:: came the distracted reply.
::Are you busy?:: Ryoko asked carefully, shielding her emotions from her mother. She was not really certain what she wanted from the small scientist, and hoped to keep things casual.
::Yes.:: was the firm reply.
::Oh.:: Ryoko turned away from the door and walked out into the living room with heavy steps.
She tried to be angry with Washu, for ignoring her, but for some reason, the anger could not cover the ache in her chest. She stopped walking and rubbed a hand over her torso. Yes, there was pain. And something was wrong with her breathing too. It was coming in short little rasps that never quite filled her lungs. And her eyes were stinging. It felt terrible.
She turned around and hurried back over to the door and banged on the wood impatiently. "Hey! Answer the door!" The wood shuddered with the intensity of her blows.
::Go away, Little Ryoko. Mommy's busy now.::
"I'm sick, damn it!" Ryoko snapped. "Let me in!"
Before she could hit the door again, it swung open to reveal Washu's concerned face. She deftly caught Ryoko's fist as it descended towards where the door used to be. "Sick?"
"Yes," Ryoko moaned. "My chest hurts, and I – I can't breath," she wheezed, her skin pasty and damp.
Washu watched her for a moment, looks of clinical detachment and worry taking turns on her face. "Let's get you in here and take a look at you then."
Ryoko leaned against the doorframe and looked away. "In there? You know I don't like to go in there," she backpedaled.
Washu watched the color creep back into to Ryoko's cheeks. "What's wrong with you? Do you want my help or not?" she asked testily.
Ryoko glanced into the lab fearfully. "I don't know," she replied in a tired voice, her breathing resuming its usual cadence.
Washu followed Ryoko's gaze into the gloomy depth of her lab and understood at once. She called up her laptop and pressed a few keys. The lights in the lab slowly raised until the darkness was replaced by an almost cheerful glow. "Better?" she asked, dismissing her computer.
Ryoko nodded and followed her mother inside.
After a minute of walking, Washu pulled out an ergonomic office chair and motioned for Ryoko to have a seat, while she hopped onto an adjacent lab- stool. "Your condition seems to be stabilizing," she said calmly.
Ryoko looked around at the specimens that Washu kept in this section of lab. They were rather peaceful, really. Some of them swam along in large tanks, while other played in cages made to represent their natural habitats. The small chirrups and screeches they snag out made this area seem almost comfortable.
"Little Ryoko?" Washu prompted.
"Oh. Right. I'm feeling better now, thanks." Ryoko rose to her feet, looking regretfully at the animals. She wouldn't have minded watching them for a while.
"What's the rush?" Washu asked easily. "I think we should talk about this some more. You said your chest hurt, and you had trouble breathing. Anything else?"
Ryoko sat back down. "Well, my eyes were burning."
Washu tilted her head to one side and tapped a finger against her jaw. "And these symptoms are now gone?"
"Yep," Ryoko agreed, feeling rather foolish for her earlier panic. "Any idea what it was?"
Washu's face took on a guarded look as she nodded.
"Well? What was it? Will it happen again?"
"Tell me Ryoko, what were you doing before this happened?" Washu asked, taking a pen and a small notepad out of a subspace pocket.
"Well, I was flying. Like I do every day of my life. "
Washu jotted that down. "What did you see?"
"I saw Tenchi and Sasami washing the car. Then I saw Ayeka and the old man playing a game."
Washu's head dipped, so that Ryoko could no longer see her eyes. "And then you came to see me?" she asked, regret heavy in her voice. She was no longer writing.
"Yeah, so what?"
Washu sniffed. "I'm sorry I sent you away."
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong with me or not?" Ryoko snapped, weirded-out by Washu's change in mood.
Washu raised her head, her eyes bright, but her cheeks dry. "I will tell you, but you won't like it."
Ryoko nodded brusquely. "I can take it."
Was chuckled darkly. "Alright then. You were lonely." She paused. "Lonely and sad."
"Huh?" Ryoko asked.
"You know those things called emotions? Those things you like to hide? Surprise, sometimes they won't stay hidden."
"I know I have emotions!" Ryoko blustered. "I'm feeling pissed off right now!"
Washu held up a hand. "Hold it. I told you that you wouldn't like my answer. Yes, you have a handle on anger and hate. However, you keep your unhappiness suppressed everyday."
Ryoko stood up and menaced her mother. "What the hell do you know about it? My entire existence is one big unhappy mess! I know what unhappy feels like."
Washu stood up as well and met her daughter's glare, craning her head up so she could look Ryoko squarely in the eye. "Oh yeah? When do you cry?"
"I cry!" Ryoko defended herself. "I cried when I thought Tenchi was dead! I cried when Kagato was trying to kill him!"
Washu reached up and pushed Ryoko back into her chair with surprising force. "That doesn't count! Those were times of stress and panic. Your adrenaline was more responsible for your tears than your emotions." She looked down at her daughter and gently caressed her face. "You don't know how to cry to express your sadness."
Ryoko just started at her. "But…but…"
"That's why your eyes were burning silly. And why you had trouble breathing. Your body wanted to cry."
"And my chest?" Ryoko asked quietly, seeing the sense her mother was making.
"Your heart hurt."
"Can you fix my heart?" Ryoko was whispering now.
"I wish I could."
"Then why did it go away?" Ryoko asked, regaining some sparkle. "There must have been a reason!"
Washu's smile brightened her entire face. "As hard as this might be for either of us to believe, I think you got better when you saw me."
Ryoko looked doubtful.
"You see, you saw everyone else had someone to be with, and you were lonely. So you came looking for your mo - , er, for me," Washu said carefully.
Ryoko picked at the fabric of her skirt. "Then you were too busy, so I got… sad?" she finished uncertainly.
Washu nodded. "And I won't be too busy anymore."
"Don't trouble yourself on my account," Ryoko grumbled, hoping to start an argument, rather than return to the topic of her lack of tears.
"Hey, its not like you usually come calling."
"Alright, alright," Ryoko conceded, rising to her feet. "I guess I should go, huh?"
Washu gazed at her daughter who was taking a final, longing look at the specimens. "Well, I could use some help feeding these critters."
****
Ryoko dug through the kitchen cupboard, looking at the different pottery sake sets. Some were blue and rounded, others were beige and more squarish. There was even a set of cups made of wooden boxes. She took an example of each cup and set them out on the counter in a neat row. She looked at them for a moment then stacked them on top of each other in different permutations of type. Just as she placed the larger box cup on the top of a stack, her nose quivered and she froze, her hand hovering in the air above the upper-most cup.
"Hey, Ryoko," said Tenchi from behind her, his voice betraying his nervousness.
She turned around and lounged against the counter, a lazy smile pasted on her face, her body blocking her cup tower. "Hello, Tenchi."
He had two empty glasses in his hands; one of the rims was smeared with pale pink lipstick. He walked further into the room and placed the glasses in the sink. "I haven't seen much of you since we got back."
Ryoko's smile took a turn for the worse, looking a bit forced. "Really? I'm sorry about that."
"Ryoko, you don't have to do this." Tenchi's warm brown eyes reflected concern and sadness.
"Do what?" she asked, her smile straining further.
Tenchi frowned and took hold of Ryoko's shoulders. "This… this fake acceptance! You act like you don't care, but I know you do!"
Ryoko's smile cracked into the lines of a grimace. "What do you know about me Tenchi Masaki?" she snapped.
He clutched harder at her shoulders. "I know this can't be doing you any good!"
Her eyes took on a hard glint. "I don't think that's any of your concern."
"Why not?" he asked earnestly.
"Why?" she echoed. "Why?" She looked at him in utter disbelief. "How can you even ask me that?"
"Ryoko, my feelings for you haven't changed," Tenchi said with urgency underlying his words.
"Yeah," she answered, making it sound like an accusation.
"I mean, you are still my friend," he clarified.
She looked at him for a long moment. "Tenchi, what's the point of having this conversation? It won't fix anything."
"What's broken?"
Ryoko's brought a hand to her heart unconsciously as she looked away. "Nothing you would notice."
Tenchi had the grace to look guilty. "Are you still my friend, Ryoko?"
She nodded. "Don't be stupid."
He released her shoulders and took a step back. "I'm glad."
"Just don't expect things to be liked they used to be either," she warned.
Tenchi sighed in defeat, his regret an almost palpable force in the room. Spying the stack of sake cups behind Ryoko, he seized the distraction. "Empty sake glasses?"
She looked behind her then back at Tenchi. "Yup."
"Well that's a first for you!" Tenchi tried to joke.
She considered. "Empty…." She brightened. "That's it! Thanks Tenchi!"
He scratched the back of his neck. "For what?"
"Inspiration," she answered shortly, pushing off from the counter and weaving around him as she floated out of the room.
AN: Hey all! Thanks for the feedback! Its keeping me going on this one!
Ryoko soared above the canopy of trees, her poise reflecting her worsening mood.
Write about bad things huh?
Well, her life was just chock full of bad things.
Where to start? Could it be her history as a killing machine? Or maybe she should just take it further back and begin with being 'born' in the form of a misbegotten machine?
:: I heard that,:: muttered a displeased voice in the back corner of her mind. ::It isn't true.::
::Argh! Get out of my head!:: Ryoko thought back with venom in her mental voice, before abruptly slamming shut her end of the mental link.
Ryoko frowned as she flew above the Masaki property. Everything was bad. EVERYTHING.
She stopped short, pulling up so that her body hovered above the earth in a pseudo-standing position. The bad thoughts were coming to the surface again. She crossed her arms. Damn poetry. She didn't think too deeply for a reason.
As the air currents cooled her skin and toyed with her hair, Ryoko scanned the landscape, one fang gnawing on her lower lip. There was one thing that helped her keep those mental nasties away. It couldn't hurt to just look, could it?
She took off again and headed for the fields.
Perching in her favorite tree, Ryoko watched Tenchi hoeing the carrot rows. He had removed most of his clothing and was working in a white, tank-top- undershirt and jean cutoffs. His small but defined musculature strained as he lifted the hoe over his head and brought it back down to loosen the earth.
Ryoko smiled, momentarily distracted. Tenchi worked so hard, and at such simple tasks. But they clearly brought him such fulfillment. He was lucky that way.
Watching Tenchi had always reminded her that the bigger issues in life weren't always what mattered. When he was working, the simplicity of his actions were the focus. When he was sleeping, his innocence shone forth like a beacon in the night.
Her Tenchi.
No. Not her Tenchi. Not now, not then, not ever.
And she certainly couldn't watch him sleep anymore. Who knew what she might find these days? She shuddered at that thought.
No. Tenchi couldn't sooth her demons anymore.
***
Ryoko kicked her shoes off as she entered the house's vestibule. She wiggled her sweaty toes on the cool floor tiles and smiled in comfort. She looked at the neat line of shoes by the wall, then at her own lying where they had randomly landed. For half a second, she considered tidying them, then shrugged and floated on into the house.
Upon reaching the living room, the one-time pirate looked up at the rafter and down at the couch. The couch was more comfortable, but even though the room was empty now, the soap operas started in about ten minutes and the couch would be a crowded mess. She clutched her legal pad against her chest and chewed on her lip. She certainly didn't want any one to watch her write, and none of the girls could be counted on to respect her privacy.
Almost as summoned by the thought, Mihoshi bounced into the room looking cool in a white sundress. She dropped onto the couch, making the hem of her skirt flutter. "Hi there Ryoko," she greeted as she picked up the remote.
"Hi."
"So, what are you doing with that notepad?" the blonde asked breezily.
"It's for my hit list," Ryoko replied, sounding dead serious.
"Oh," Mihoshi replied with a nervous squeak. "I'm not on it am I?"
"Not yet," Ryoko said floating up to her rafter.
"Oh my, oh my!" the detective stuttered and turned back the television and quickly using the remote to switch it on before she did something to be added to the list.
Ryoko brushed a patch of dust off the beam and settled the pad on to her lap and toyed with the pen. She could write about anything. Anything.
She frowned. If she could write about anything, why did her head feel so empty?
She clicked the pen into readiness and touched the point to paper. Instead of words, doodles began to cover the page. A laughing chibi Washu had a chibi Ryoko tied up and seemed to be experimenting on her. Ryoko frowned at that one. Her next drawing had the Ryoko chasing after Washu with a hatchet. Now that was more like it.
Following this was an illustration of a victorious Ryoko standing on top of a hog-tied and gagged Washu.
Rather pleased, Ryoko let lose an evil sounding chuckle.
"Miss Ryoko?" asked Ayeka's sweet voice.
Ryoko looked down to see Ayeka getting up from her position on the couch between Mihoshi and Sasami. It seemed the soaps had started while she had been caught up in the creative process.
"Yes?" Ryoko asked as the princess walked around the couch, stopping directly under the rafter.
"I didn't realize you were up there. Wouldn't you like to join us on the couch? There is plenty of room," Ayeka offered kindly.
"Thanks, but I'm kinda busy here," Ryoko responded.
"But, it's your favorite show. Please come and join us?" Ayeka all but begged.
"No thanks," Ryoko said more firmly as Ayeka's shoulders fell.
"Oh Ayeka be careful!" Mihoshi called. "Ryoko's writing out her hit list!"
"Oh?" Ayeka asked with a raised eyebrow. "Am I on it?" she asked slyly, clearly trying to get a response.
"Number one," Ryoko responded automatically. "Oh, I mean, of course not Lady Ayeka," she said catching herself.
"Ryoko please, you needn't go on like this. It can't be good for you," Ayeka said in a cajoling voice.
Ryoko looked at Ayeka for a moment then smiled the barest of smiles before vanishing from sight.
"Oh Sasami! What are we going to do with her?" Ayeka asked with dismay.
***
Ryoko popped into existence above Katsuhito's writing desk, causing him to startle and spill his cup of tea down the front of his white jacket. "Miss Ryoko!"
" 'Ryoko', will do," she said watching him through narrowed eyes. "You're a mess. What ever happened to the ' You Always Need To Be Vigilant' talk you are constantly giving Tenchi?"
Katsuhito pretended to ponder this, then glided to his feet and grabbed Ryoko's wrists. Before she knew what was happening, he pivoted neatly on the balls of his feet and slammed her to the floor.
She hit with a resounding smack as she let go of the pad and used her right hand to make first contact with the floor and dissipate her falling body's kinetic energy.
"You were saying?" he asked calmly, dabbing at the tea stain with a cloth.
"Heh," she laughed getting to her feet. "That felt good. I haven't taken a high fall in a while."
"I could tell," he said. "Your form has suffered."
She cocked her head and looked at him steadily, not really minding his comment, because it was true. "Any way," she drawled. "That's not why I came all the way up here."
"So what is your reason?"
She stamped over to him loudly, each step radiating frustration. She paused nose to nose with him and stared him in the eyes. "I can't write."
"Oh?" He gave her one of his crazy-as-a-loon-shrine-keeper grins. "Did you forget to click the pen?"
"No," she roared. "The pen is fine!"
He pretended to consider. "Did you run out of paper?"
"No, I did not!" she seethed
"Then what's the problem?" he asked gently.
"I'm trying to tell you!"
"Hmmm." He stepped back, broadening the space between them. "Have a seat." He gestured to some soft cushions on the floor.
Ryoko huffed a short expulsion of breath and sat in a half lotus position while hovering three feet above one of the cushions.
Katsuhito sat on the floor in seiza and waited.
"I don't know what to say," she ground out. "You made it sound so easy."
He nodded. "It is easy when one doesn't fight it. You are trying too hard."
Ryoko just crossed her arms and grunted.
"Let me see what you have done so far."
Ryoko reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled ball of paper. Grimacing, she handed it to him.
Katsuhito carefully smoothed the paper out and looked at Ryoko's illustrations for a long moment.
"See? I told you I couldn't do it."
"Hmmm." He looked more closely at the pictures then looked back to Ryoko. "These pictures seem to tell me a story. Try to tell me the same story in words." He handed the paper back to Ryoko along with another pen.
"Now?" she complained.
He nodded and closing his eyes, slipped into a meditative state.
Deprived of company, Ryoko clicked the pen and after a long moment of thought, began to write, scribble out her words, then try again. This process continued until she almost ran out of room on the sheet of paper. Finally satisfied, she sat up straighter and flicked the pen at the priest.
"Mmm?" he asked not opening his eyes.
"I'm finished."
He opened his eyes and held out his hand.
Looking a little nervous, Ryoko handed him the paper and waited expectantly.
He cleared his throat and read the following,
"If Washu doesn't
Stop messing around with me
She will be sorry."
"It rhymes again," he said.
"Is that all you can say?" she demanded. "This is stupid." She straightened her legs and touched down on the floor. "I'm out of here."
"Wait. I have an assignment for you."
She paused.
"Write me one about sake, with no rhyming. Can you do that?"
She snorted and drifted through the wall.
***
Ryoko flew back towards the house, absently caressing her chin as she thought. That old jerk! She had come to him for help, and he had just made fun of her.
Well, she'd show him! She'd write a damn poem about sake, and shove it up his ass! She could do it! After all, sake was one of her favorite things in the world.
Maybe it would be a good idea to drink some sake, then write about it.
Her brow crinkled. Nah, that probably wouldn't work, as she tended to pass out when she drank.
"Tenchi! No! Ha ha ha ha ha! Stop it!" Came Sasami's shout from below.
Ryoko looked down to see the family van in covered in soapsuds, and Tenchi chasing Sasami around with the hose, splashing the little girl at every opportunity.
"Its cold!" Sasami shrieked as she ran to the opposite side of the van, trying to find cover.
Tenchi laughed and continued his pursuit until Sasami's ponytails were drenched and hung limply down her back.
Ryoko's lips turned down as she watched. They were having so much fun. Like the brother and sister they had legally become. She hugged herself and teleported to the roof, facing away from the two playing in the front yard. But she could still hear them. They sounded so happy. They were a happy family, just not her family anymore.
The thought of leaving crossed her mind again. But where would she go? Were all the bounties on her head canceled? In every system? Who could be sure?
Noticing that bleak thoughts were again coming upon her, Ryoko teleported back to the shrine, hoping to raise her sprits by picking another fight with the shrine keeper. To her dismay, she saw that Ayeka had come to pay her brother a visit. The pair of them sat on the front porch laughingly playing a game of checkers and reminiscing about the good old days on Jurai.
Ryoko's stomach turned when Katsuhito, lovingly told Ayeka how proud he was of her, and how perfect she was for Tenchi. Feeling like a malformed puzzle piece, Ryoko teleported away before they saw her. She didn't fit in anymore. She had no spot. It was time for drastic measures.
Ryoko appeared at the broom closet door that served as the entrance to her mother's lab. She knocked on the wood with hesitation and waited.
Nothing.
She knocked louder this time.
Again, no response.
Giving up on good manners, Ryoko tried to open the door.
Locked.
::Little Washu?:: she called mentally.
::Yes?:: came the distracted reply.
::Are you busy?:: Ryoko asked carefully, shielding her emotions from her mother. She was not really certain what she wanted from the small scientist, and hoped to keep things casual.
::Yes.:: was the firm reply.
::Oh.:: Ryoko turned away from the door and walked out into the living room with heavy steps.
She tried to be angry with Washu, for ignoring her, but for some reason, the anger could not cover the ache in her chest. She stopped walking and rubbed a hand over her torso. Yes, there was pain. And something was wrong with her breathing too. It was coming in short little rasps that never quite filled her lungs. And her eyes were stinging. It felt terrible.
She turned around and hurried back over to the door and banged on the wood impatiently. "Hey! Answer the door!" The wood shuddered with the intensity of her blows.
::Go away, Little Ryoko. Mommy's busy now.::
"I'm sick, damn it!" Ryoko snapped. "Let me in!"
Before she could hit the door again, it swung open to reveal Washu's concerned face. She deftly caught Ryoko's fist as it descended towards where the door used to be. "Sick?"
"Yes," Ryoko moaned. "My chest hurts, and I – I can't breath," she wheezed, her skin pasty and damp.
Washu watched her for a moment, looks of clinical detachment and worry taking turns on her face. "Let's get you in here and take a look at you then."
Ryoko leaned against the doorframe and looked away. "In there? You know I don't like to go in there," she backpedaled.
Washu watched the color creep back into to Ryoko's cheeks. "What's wrong with you? Do you want my help or not?" she asked testily.
Ryoko glanced into the lab fearfully. "I don't know," she replied in a tired voice, her breathing resuming its usual cadence.
Washu followed Ryoko's gaze into the gloomy depth of her lab and understood at once. She called up her laptop and pressed a few keys. The lights in the lab slowly raised until the darkness was replaced by an almost cheerful glow. "Better?" she asked, dismissing her computer.
Ryoko nodded and followed her mother inside.
After a minute of walking, Washu pulled out an ergonomic office chair and motioned for Ryoko to have a seat, while she hopped onto an adjacent lab- stool. "Your condition seems to be stabilizing," she said calmly.
Ryoko looked around at the specimens that Washu kept in this section of lab. They were rather peaceful, really. Some of them swam along in large tanks, while other played in cages made to represent their natural habitats. The small chirrups and screeches they snag out made this area seem almost comfortable.
"Little Ryoko?" Washu prompted.
"Oh. Right. I'm feeling better now, thanks." Ryoko rose to her feet, looking regretfully at the animals. She wouldn't have minded watching them for a while.
"What's the rush?" Washu asked easily. "I think we should talk about this some more. You said your chest hurt, and you had trouble breathing. Anything else?"
Ryoko sat back down. "Well, my eyes were burning."
Washu tilted her head to one side and tapped a finger against her jaw. "And these symptoms are now gone?"
"Yep," Ryoko agreed, feeling rather foolish for her earlier panic. "Any idea what it was?"
Washu's face took on a guarded look as she nodded.
"Well? What was it? Will it happen again?"
"Tell me Ryoko, what were you doing before this happened?" Washu asked, taking a pen and a small notepad out of a subspace pocket.
"Well, I was flying. Like I do every day of my life. "
Washu jotted that down. "What did you see?"
"I saw Tenchi and Sasami washing the car. Then I saw Ayeka and the old man playing a game."
Washu's head dipped, so that Ryoko could no longer see her eyes. "And then you came to see me?" she asked, regret heavy in her voice. She was no longer writing.
"Yeah, so what?"
Washu sniffed. "I'm sorry I sent you away."
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong with me or not?" Ryoko snapped, weirded-out by Washu's change in mood.
Washu raised her head, her eyes bright, but her cheeks dry. "I will tell you, but you won't like it."
Ryoko nodded brusquely. "I can take it."
Was chuckled darkly. "Alright then. You were lonely." She paused. "Lonely and sad."
"Huh?" Ryoko asked.
"You know those things called emotions? Those things you like to hide? Surprise, sometimes they won't stay hidden."
"I know I have emotions!" Ryoko blustered. "I'm feeling pissed off right now!"
Washu held up a hand. "Hold it. I told you that you wouldn't like my answer. Yes, you have a handle on anger and hate. However, you keep your unhappiness suppressed everyday."
Ryoko stood up and menaced her mother. "What the hell do you know about it? My entire existence is one big unhappy mess! I know what unhappy feels like."
Washu stood up as well and met her daughter's glare, craning her head up so she could look Ryoko squarely in the eye. "Oh yeah? When do you cry?"
"I cry!" Ryoko defended herself. "I cried when I thought Tenchi was dead! I cried when Kagato was trying to kill him!"
Washu reached up and pushed Ryoko back into her chair with surprising force. "That doesn't count! Those were times of stress and panic. Your adrenaline was more responsible for your tears than your emotions." She looked down at her daughter and gently caressed her face. "You don't know how to cry to express your sadness."
Ryoko just started at her. "But…but…"
"That's why your eyes were burning silly. And why you had trouble breathing. Your body wanted to cry."
"And my chest?" Ryoko asked quietly, seeing the sense her mother was making.
"Your heart hurt."
"Can you fix my heart?" Ryoko was whispering now.
"I wish I could."
"Then why did it go away?" Ryoko asked, regaining some sparkle. "There must have been a reason!"
Washu's smile brightened her entire face. "As hard as this might be for either of us to believe, I think you got better when you saw me."
Ryoko looked doubtful.
"You see, you saw everyone else had someone to be with, and you were lonely. So you came looking for your mo - , er, for me," Washu said carefully.
Ryoko picked at the fabric of her skirt. "Then you were too busy, so I got… sad?" she finished uncertainly.
Washu nodded. "And I won't be too busy anymore."
"Don't trouble yourself on my account," Ryoko grumbled, hoping to start an argument, rather than return to the topic of her lack of tears.
"Hey, its not like you usually come calling."
"Alright, alright," Ryoko conceded, rising to her feet. "I guess I should go, huh?"
Washu gazed at her daughter who was taking a final, longing look at the specimens. "Well, I could use some help feeding these critters."
****
Ryoko dug through the kitchen cupboard, looking at the different pottery sake sets. Some were blue and rounded, others were beige and more squarish. There was even a set of cups made of wooden boxes. She took an example of each cup and set them out on the counter in a neat row. She looked at them for a moment then stacked them on top of each other in different permutations of type. Just as she placed the larger box cup on the top of a stack, her nose quivered and she froze, her hand hovering in the air above the upper-most cup.
"Hey, Ryoko," said Tenchi from behind her, his voice betraying his nervousness.
She turned around and lounged against the counter, a lazy smile pasted on her face, her body blocking her cup tower. "Hello, Tenchi."
He had two empty glasses in his hands; one of the rims was smeared with pale pink lipstick. He walked further into the room and placed the glasses in the sink. "I haven't seen much of you since we got back."
Ryoko's smile took a turn for the worse, looking a bit forced. "Really? I'm sorry about that."
"Ryoko, you don't have to do this." Tenchi's warm brown eyes reflected concern and sadness.
"Do what?" she asked, her smile straining further.
Tenchi frowned and took hold of Ryoko's shoulders. "This… this fake acceptance! You act like you don't care, but I know you do!"
Ryoko's smile cracked into the lines of a grimace. "What do you know about me Tenchi Masaki?" she snapped.
He clutched harder at her shoulders. "I know this can't be doing you any good!"
Her eyes took on a hard glint. "I don't think that's any of your concern."
"Why not?" he asked earnestly.
"Why?" she echoed. "Why?" She looked at him in utter disbelief. "How can you even ask me that?"
"Ryoko, my feelings for you haven't changed," Tenchi said with urgency underlying his words.
"Yeah," she answered, making it sound like an accusation.
"I mean, you are still my friend," he clarified.
She looked at him for a long moment. "Tenchi, what's the point of having this conversation? It won't fix anything."
"What's broken?"
Ryoko's brought a hand to her heart unconsciously as she looked away. "Nothing you would notice."
Tenchi had the grace to look guilty. "Are you still my friend, Ryoko?"
She nodded. "Don't be stupid."
He released her shoulders and took a step back. "I'm glad."
"Just don't expect things to be liked they used to be either," she warned.
Tenchi sighed in defeat, his regret an almost palpable force in the room. Spying the stack of sake cups behind Ryoko, he seized the distraction. "Empty sake glasses?"
She looked behind her then back at Tenchi. "Yup."
"Well that's a first for you!" Tenchi tried to joke.
She considered. "Empty…." She brightened. "That's it! Thanks Tenchi!"
He scratched the back of his neck. "For what?"
"Inspiration," she answered shortly, pushing off from the counter and weaving around him as she floated out of the room.
AN: Hey all! Thanks for the feedback! Its keeping me going on this one!
