Woo-hoo!!! I'm back!! MAJOR writer's block, sorry about that. Heh. Incase you've forgotten the plot, here's a little synopsis:
Tenchi leaves on this big 'coming of age' journey type thing, which freaks out Ryoko b/c she's been having these ominous dreams predicting Tenchi's death at the hand of her old partner, Hotsuma. Six months pass, and Tenchi finally returns, all in one piece. The problem is, Ryoko's still having the dreams. She and Tenchi get in a fight, Ryoko storms out of the house, and low and behold, whom should she discover but the notorious Hotsuma (unconscious at the time)! Duh duh duuuhh! Nobody knows who he is except for Ryoko, Kiyone, and Mihoshi. Ryoko convinces Kiyone not to say anything for a while, and Kiyone locks Mihoshi in the bathroom 'cause she doesn't trust her blond partner to keep her mouth shut. Hotsuma eventually confronts Ryoko on the roof, says some crap that pisses her off, and they duke it out! Tenchi sees them fighting and gets the wrong idea. He and Ryoko have another fight, ending with Tenchi saying some pretty nasty things and Ryoko threatening to leave. Oh, BTW – Hotsuma tells Ryoko that he's not a shadow any longer. And Ryoko's the only one who knows he was Yugi's shadow… Kiyone just thinks he's some dangerous punk criminal who got Ryoko into trouble.
Anyhow, on with the fic… and thanks a bunch for all of the reviews!
"…so do you understand?" Kiyone demanded. Mihoshi sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"I'm not supposed to say anything about Ryoko's past with Hotsuma," she said pitifully. Kiyone nodded, looking relieved. "Wait… Who's Hotsuma?"
"Mihoshi!" Kiyone groaned, rolling her eyes hopelessly and falling back against the side of the bathtub. Both girls were seated on the floor of the bathroom; Kiyone sat cross-legged and Mihoshi had her legs drawn under her, a wad of toilet paper pressed to her face. Kiyone had sneaked back directly after dinner to explain the situation to Mihoshi. "Come on Mihoshi! Focus! Don't you remember a couple of years ago, when Ryoko went back to a life of crime and started robbing every bank in the galaxy?
"Uhh… Oh yeah!"
"And we were assigned to the job of tracking her down and arresting her?"
"Yeah! And we went under cover but she knew it was us right away and made us do all this horrible stuff!"
"Yeah... I forgot about that…" Kiyone muttered peevishly.
"And we all sat down and talked and found out that Ryoko was sad because of something Tenchi did!" Mihoshi continued, babbling happily.
"That's right! We never did find out what Tenchi did to her… Anyway, do you remember a man with long blond hair and glasses?" Mihoshi squinted and appeared to be thinking seriously.
"I think so… He came up in the vid-screen and told Ryoko that someone had revealed the location of their hideout to the Galaxy Police, right?"
"Yes, making it sound like we'd betrayed Ryoko!" Kiyone recalled angrily.
"He was cute!" Mihoshi giggled. Kiyone rolled her eyes.
"Mihoshi! That man was Hotsuma, and he's here now!"
"Oh, how nice – " Kiyone jerked forward and grasped Mihoshi's shirt tightly in one fist.
"No it is not nice!" she yelled, shaking the blonde. "He's a space pirate!"
"So? Ryoko's a space pirate and she's pretty nice. Why, just the other day she gave me the larger rice ball!"
"Yeah, but this guy gives me weird vibes," Kiyone said seriously, in a calmer tone. "There's something more to him than meets the eye."
Tenchi stared up at the ceiling numbly, sitting rigidly on the soft, plush couch. He idly listened to the clatter of dishes in the kitchen, as Sasami cleaned up from dinner.
She's gone. I drove her away. I didn't expect her to stick around forever, but… No. That's a lie. I did expect her to stay here always. Forever, with me. I can't really imagine any of them leaving, but with Ryoko it's different. God, it's always different with Ryoko!
"Something bothering you, Tenchi?" Tenchi's eyes snapped into focus and he was greeted by a thick bush of bright pink hair. Washu lifted one eyebrow inquisitively.
"Are you okay, Tenchi?" she repeated, backing up a step so that Tenchi could sit up straighter.
"I'm fine Washu. And yourself?" he stated dully.
"That wasn't very convincing, Tenchi."
"Washu, why do some people lie about who they are?" Tenchi asked abruptly.
"So that the government can't track them down and demand that they cease creating weapons of mass destruction that can blow-up the universe and cause an apocalypse," Washu responded promptly.
"No… That wasn't what I meant." Tenchi said in confusion.
"Oh. Then never mind," Washu laughed nervously.
"Why does Ryoko hide her true self from me?" Tenchi asked softly.
"In what way has she done that?" Washu asked, not at all surprised at the mention of Ryoko.
"She always acts as if she can handle anything that comes her way, without any help from anybody. And then attacking Hotsuma like that, without provocation…I just don't know." Tenchi sighed.
"It sounds to me like you're more afraid Ryoko's not hiding a deeper self from you…that her character is exactly as it seems to be," Washu commented sagely. Tenchi bit his lip, looking disturbed. "Well Tenchi, I suspect she developed this attitude of aggression and self-reliance from her previous life as a space pirate. Piracy is a lonely, depressing lifestyle Tenchi, no matter how glamorous it may seem. Ryoko's survival depended on her physical strength, as well as her cocky attitude. Do you honestly believe that anyone would take a pirate with low self-esteem seriously? You should also understand that independence and confidence are part of Ryoko's nature – she's a wild gal and you can't change that."
"And I don't want to!" Tenchi cried passionately. "It's her apparent love of violence that worries and confuses me."
"There's no doubt that Ryoko enjoys a good fight – she's rather hot-headed – however she would not attack an innocent. Well, unless she was stealing from them," Washu amended thoughtfully. "This spat with Hotsuma, did he tell you that Ryoko started it?"
"Not in so many words, but yes."
"And Ryoko denied it."
"Yes, but when I went up to the roof, Hotsuma was flat on his back and Ryoko was floating over him with her energy sword ignited."
"So Ryoko was winning. I'm confused as to why you would believe the word of a stranger over that of a close friend whom you've known for many years." Tenchi opened his mouth, then closed it again.
"Goodnight Washu," he said quietly, standing up and walking towards the stairs mechanically. "I'll see you in the morning." Washu shook her head and threw up her hands.
"Crazy kids," she muttered in annoyance.
Ryoko groaned and shifted position slightly. Her eyes were red and swollen from all the crying of the previous night, but she managed to crack one open. Her digital clock read 10:22 in green, blurry lines.
"Dammit I over-slept!" she moaned. "No wonder I never cry…I feel like shit!" After a series of muttered curses and loud groans, Ryoko managed to swing her legs over the side of the bed. Yawning and stretching luxuriously, she sunk through the floor just far enough to poke her head through the kitchen ceiling. The kitchen was empty.
"Sasami, not in the kitchen? Will wonders never cease!" Ryoko whispered sardonically. The murmur of voices and laughter floated in from the direction of the living room. Ryoko floated down and peeked around the doorjamb. The whole crew sat in a semi-circle around Tenchi, who was talking loudly and gesticulating wildly.
"…so I was clamped onto the mast, trying my damndest to keep from throwing up, while the captain stood beside me shouting things like, 'Argh, this is the life, matey! It don't get better than this!'" The group broke out laughing and Tenchi grinned.
"Wow, Tenchi, your trip sounds pretty scary!" Mihoshi said, eyes wide.
"It was, sometimes," he admitted. "But it was fun too, and I met a lot of interesting people."
"Oh, you mean like Candy?"
"Yeah, Candy," Tenchi said dreamily, then looked up with a jerk. "Wait just a minute, Mihoshi! How do you know about Candy?!"
"It's right here on this card… Along with her number: 245 – 8912," Mihoshi read, holding it up for everyone to see. It was written in hot pink. Ayeka pursed her lips and stared at Tenchi purposefully, while Kiyone smiled broadly. Washu and Katsuhito just shook their heads.
"Umm, where did you find that?" Tenchi blushed furiously.
"In your wallet."
"Can I have it back please?"
"Of course! Do you want these too?" Mihoshi questioned, pulling several other slips of paper with names on numbers on them out of her pockets. Ayeka positively glared, and Kiyone snatched up a pillow to muffle her laughter. Ryoko smiled, amusement winning out over jealousy. Although she was furious at him, the thought of Tenchi as a lady's man was utterly hilarious. Tenchi grabbed the papers up hastily, diverting the group's attention by continuing his story.
"Anyway, I managed to make it to Matsuyama in one piece, and spent a week there while the boat was being unloaded and restocked for the return trip. I spent most of my time in the town, but on the last day, I visited an old shrine out in the countryside. I had only been there for a few minutes when the shrine keeper approached me. He immediately asked me if my journey had provided the enlightenment that I sought. I respectfully asked him what he meant, and he replied that he could tell my soul was troubled, and that I had embarked on this journey to find relief. So I – " Tenchi faltered. "I told him about all of you," he finished quietly. The room became absolutely silent. Ryoko dug her nails into the wood of the doorjamb, catching her breath. There was no question about his meaning – everyone had at least suspected that the reason Tenchi left in the first place was so that he could decide whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
Well I already know that I'm out of the running, Ryoko thought bitterly, trying to calm herself. Ayeka spoke up first.
"Well? What did he tell you?" she asked breathlessly.
"He said, 'this choice is one of the heart, not the mind, my son.'" The room groaned collectively.
"That doesn't help!" Ayeka cried plaintively. Tenchi chuckled.
"Well it helped me," he said gently. "I realized that I was obsessed with picking the 'right' girl – the most sensible match, or the choice that would cause the least pain to the rest of you. I didn't pause to examine my feelings."
"I take it you've examined them by now?" Katsuhito said gravely. Tenchi nodded. "And what did you discover Tenchi?" The silence was deafening. Each one of the girls leaned forward in anticipation.
"I – "
"Yes, Tenchi dear, do tell us who the lucky lady is!" Hotsuma called sarcastically, stepping out of Washu's lab.
"Hey! I thought I had you strapped down!" Washu pouted. Hotsuma ignored her.
"Oh Ryoko! Don't you want to hear this too?" he asked maliciously. Ryoko cursed silently and strode into view as everyone turned to stare at her.
"Ryoko!" Tenchi breathed.
"Good morning, Tenchi," she said brusquely. "Hotsuma," she added, turning and nodding sharply, glaring daggers.
"Ryoko, I thought you'd left!" Tenchi cried, leaping to his feet and starting towards her. Ryoko backed up a step and held out a hand as he drew nearer.
"I'll be out of your hair soon, Tenchi," she said coldly. God, it was torture, knowing that this would probably be the last time she stood so close to him, his intoxicating scent permeating her senses, the warmth of his body heat radiating onto her skin. She wanted to cling to him and beg him to let her stay. "I have a few lose ends to tie up here, then I'll be gone forever."
"Ryoko, what are you talking about?" Sasami asked anxiously.
"Ryoko, please, just listen – " Tenchi began.
"Great! Are you finally ready to blow this rotating ball of dirt?" Hotsuma asked brightly.
"You," Ryoko said in freezing tones, pointing at Hotsuma. "Outside. I'm going to finish you once and for all."
Maybe a little short, but it's something, right? And I know I sorta jipped you on the story of Tenchi's journey, but I kinda wanted to leave that up to your imagination. All those telephone numbers he acquired could be a clue to his sudden maturation…(wink, wink). Next chappie should be the last! Who's Ryoko gonna pick…Hotsuma or Tenchi? S'not looking so great for either one right now, eh? Maybe she'll elope with Nobuyuki…hehehe. REVIEW GODDAMMIT! And I mean that in the nicest way possible :)