Ryoko stared up at the ceiling, remembering that day when Tenchi left. Those dreams had haunted her a week before that day, and everyday Tenchi was gone – whenever she happened to doze off. And tonight proved, they still haunted her. She slammed a fist into her mattress and, sighing angrily, phased into Tenchi's room. This was a new thing for her - nightly visits to Tenchi's bedside (remember, this is based on the 'Tenchi in Tokyo' series). But watching his slumber calmed her, as if she could gain a peaceful night's sleep vicariously, through Tenchi. He slept soundly, untroubled by persistent nightmares. She sank to her knees beside his bed and rested her head on his chest. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember how to sleep deeply, untroubled and unafraid… A hand reached over and stroked her hair. Ryoko jerked upright gasping. Tenchi smiled at her, chuckling lightly.
"I was able to surprise you?"
"It's not funny," she frowned at him, actually delighted he wasn't angry with her.
"Maybe not. But I found something funny in my pack, after I'd gone a ways." Tenchi drew her gem out from under his bed sheets. "Any idea how this got mixed in with my stuff?"
"I put it there."
"At least you're being honest. It came in real handy." Ryoko gasped sharply.
"What!"
"I was being sarcastic." Ryoko let her breath out slowly.
"What? What is it, Ryoko? What were you so worried about?"
"I don't…I mean I can't really – "
"Don't lie to me Ryoko. What did you mean earlier when you said 'he' haunted you? Who were you talking about? Are you in some kind of trouble? Tell me!" Ryoko regarded him silently.
"You've certainly gotten much pushier since you've been gone." Tenchi grinned.
"Yes…My journey was enlightening. But don't try to change the subject."
"I'm tired, Tenchi. Can't this wait until morning?"
"Fine. But don't think I'll forget…First thing tomorrow, I expect to hear everything." Ryoko smiled and saluted him jokingly.
"Sir, yes sir!" He'll forget. Now for some fun! "Tenchi," She purred, sliding quickly into his bed. "Can't I please…sleep with you tonight? Hmmm?"
"Sure thing, Ryoko." Ryoko swallowed a gasp and prayed that the dark hid the warm blush rising to her cheeks. Sure thing, he says! She sank into the pillows, allowing Tenchi's warmth and musky scent to wash over her. He smells like pine trees…and spring rain…and fall leaves…She let her thoughts fade away as she sank into a deep sleep.
Sixteen hours later, she woke up screaming. Sitting up in bed, she glanced out the window to see the setting sun. At least I got some shut-eye before the dream came back. She glanced idly to her side and saw that Tenchi was gone. Frantically, she phased through the floor into the kitchen. Sasami was dashing around, pulling dishes out of the oven and checking on simmering pots.
"Sasami, is Tenchi around?"
"Hi Ryoko! Glad you're finally up. Did you sleep well?" Sasami paused to smile at her cheerfully.
"Yes, yes, fine. Where's Tenchi?"
"I think he's in the living room with the others."
"Thanks a lot, kid." Ryoko peered around the corner. Tenchi was sitting on the couch, Ayeka and Mihoshi on either side of him. They were all laughing and talking happily. Ryoko almost backed into the kitchen, but Yosho called out to her.
"So, you are finally awake, are you Ryoko?" Ayeka looked up.
"Get in here, Ryoko! We're all dying to hear Lord Tenchi's story, but he refuses to tell it without you!" Ryoko strolled into the living room, pleased to be invited.
"Okay Ayeka, but Sasami's still in the kitchen you know. I guess you'll have to wait till after dinner." Ayeka nodded glumly. It had been over six months since Ayeka and Ryoko's last fight. Ryoko was never in the right mood, and even Ayeka had felt a bit depressed by the boy's absence. They didn't exactly become friends, but they weren't enemies either. Now treating each other civilly seemed to come naturally. Tenchi wasn't surprised; in fact, he now expected them to be mature adults.
"So Ryoko, you were going to tell me why you never wanted me to go on this trip." Ryoko remained passive, but was mentally cursing herself.
"Why, because I simply hate being separated from you Tenchi!" She responded with false sweetness.
"Okay, but why couldn't you sleep at night? Why did you starve yourself? You didn't seem happy to see me last night." The rest of the family looked uneasy. During Tenchi's absence they all watched Ryoko fade into a mere shell of her former vibrant self. "Washu said you were killing yourself." Tenchi's voice was cold, and beginning to shake. "Hey Everyone! Dinner's ready!" Sasami called from the kitchen. Ryoko stared at Tenchi a moment longer, then stalked into the kitchen. The rest of the family followed her.
Ryoko wavered at the edge of the table, staring at the feast uncertainly while everyone else seated himself or herself. Tenchi looked at her.
"Come on, sit down." Ryoko refused to look at him.
"I'm not at all hungry," she sniffed. Why does the thought of food still make me sick? Tenchi's back, I can relax! Tenchi stood up and pushed in his chair.
"I'm not eating until you do." Ryoko made a sound of protest.
"But I'm not hungry! You can do what you want. Why should I care?" She whirled around and crossed her arms in defiance. Sasami looked like she was near tears.
"Don't you like my food Ryoko? I could make you something else - " Ryoko found she couldn't resist the little princess' tears.
"I was just kidding, Sasami. Of course I like your food." Ryoko sat down and gazed at her bowl of rice and fish. She swallowed and picked up her chopsticks. Tenchi sat down as well, but didn't touch his food.
"Come on, Ryoko. One bite." Ryoko glanced at him, and then quickly swallowed a bit of fish. "Another bite." Ryoko glared at him, but obliged, looking ill. "Another. Another. One more, come on." At Tenchi's dictation, Ryoko finished the first bowl. "Give her another helping Sasami." Ryoko watched as Sasami refilled her bowl. This time Tenchi remained silent. Ryoko only paused a second, then grabbed the bowl and shoveled the contents into her mouth with her old vigor. The whole family cheered. Nobuyuki slapped Tenchi on the back, laughing heartily. The feasting began in earnest then. Ryoko polished off five more bowls of fish and rice before Tenchi once again began to interrogate her.
"Alright, Ryoko, I've waited long enough. I want some answers." Ryoko glared at him, dropping her empty bowl on the table with a clatter.
"Oh, now you're interested in what I have to say? Now you want to know what my dreams are about?" Ryoko leapt across the table, scattering dishes everywhere, and landed in front of Tenchi, who had backed away hastily. "You said you'd only be gone a month, at the most! Six months, Tenchi, six months I couldn't bear the thought of food, six months I fought off sleep - "
"Why?" Tenchi cut in, looking at her in confused desperation.
"Because I couldn't bear seeing you killed over and over again, knowing that there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it, and knowing that the murderer was someone I once thought I could love!" Ryoko whirled around to hide her tears. What am I doing? This isn't like me! Spilling me guts in front of everyone…There was an awkward silence.
"I'm so sorry Ryoko," Tenchi said finally, his regret clear. "I should never have left. But I'm home now, and I'm fine." Ryoko felt his hand rest on her shoulder. She shook it off angrily, rubbing away her tears discreetly.
"But the dreams are still coming," she said softly, and phased to her room. She looked at her bed reluctantly, then phased through the window into the cold night air. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering violently as her breath came out in visible, white puffs. Ryoko quickly phased to her favorite tree - the one she shared with Tenchi. It rose taller than the others around it, and would give a clear view of the rising sun. She and Tenchi had both reclined on the branch after that Yugi incident, Ryoko revealing her worst fears to him - that he would fall in love with Yugi when she got older, and that he didn't feel she, Ryoko, was good enough for him. The last she had said lightly, treating it as a joke. But he never did answer her.
Ryoko ran her fingertips over rough bark of the trunk idly, trying to stay awake. The sting of the frigid night air was counteracted by the fullness of her stomach. She hadn't had that kind of warm satisfaction in six months. It was a good thing her body chemistry allowed her to live long periods without nourishment, or she probably would've died before Tenchi got home.
"Tenchi…" she moaned, squeezing her eyes shut against the threat of tears. Was that stranger who'd come back really Tenchi? The Tenchi she knew was quiet, reserved, painfully shy, awkward, and immature. The complete opposite of this bold, self-assured, assertive man. She had no idea how to act around him anymore. He caught her off guard, took away her edge and forced her to be herself. He wouldn't fall for the games, he wouldn't be fooled by the act, he would want the truth, and that wasn't something she was ready to give him yet. Ryoko laughed bitterly. It was ironic, really, how she was admired, or at least noted, for her openness and candid nature. But with Tenchi, everyday had been an act, a lie. Around him she was tempted to show her other side: soft, safe, gentle. But life had told her that wasn't possible. So she remained the hardened criminal, uncaring, loud, aggressive, and confident. Unable to show the person she felt inside, and trapped with the person she had made herself to be to survive.
* * * *
When she woke, it was light, the sun peeping over the hill and the birds chirping. In such a peaceful atmosphere, it took her a moment to realize she was screaming. She snapped her mouth shut and sighed, rubbing her temples. Rising off the branch, she floated a few feet from the branch, then descended slowly to the ground. A light frost covered the ground, seeming to seep through Ryoko's soles and chill her feet. It was when she turned to look up the path to the house that she noticed his motionless body at the foot of the tree.
She hardly needed to walk any closer to know who it was. His long blond ponytail was flung over one pale cheek, and his glasses glinted on the ground beside him. Ryoko strode towards him leisurely, feeling ridiculously calm. She bent down carefully and slid two long fingers onto his neck, beneath his jaw. She could feel a very weak, very faint pulse. Gentle as a mother, she brushed the hair from his face and studied his features. He was much paler than she remembered him, though still darker than herself. Ryoko straightened and considered the situation calmly. No one was around, it would be quite easy to kill him - no muss and no fuss. Just one quick, clean stroke, and -
"Ryoko!" Sasami's voice rang out cheerfully. "I found her, she's over here!" Ryoko turned around and smiled at the princess faintly. Soon Tenchi, Washu, and Ayeka had joined her. Washu was the first to notice the body.
"Have you been playing too rough again, Ryoko?" she asked, kneeling down beside the body.
"Who's that, Ryoko?" Tenchi asked curiously.
"He looks so familiar…" Ayeka pondered, peering at the unconscious man.
"He does to me too," Tenchi said, puzzled. They both only saw him once, Ryoko thought, and that was almost two years ago. They've forgotten…
"Do you know who he is Ryoko?" Sasami piped up. Ryoko glanced down at her former partner. He was the man who had saved her life more than once, who would laugh with her, who fought by her side, and who betrayed her.
"I've never seen him before in my life."
K, hope you enjoyed it! And remember – a review a day keeps the mad, psychopathic fanfiction author away!