Happy Mother's Day! Hey, I got this one out pretty fast, didn't I? This chapter's more action packed than the last one. Well, read and enjoy….
"But Ryoko dear, whatever do you mean?" Hotsuma purred, glasses glinting dangerously as he followed the cyan-hair pirate outside. Tenchi and the others trailed close behind. Once outside, Ryoko whipped around.
"Cut the crap, Hotsuma! I don't know what possessed me to protect scum like you, but I've come to my senses. I hope you're ready to die."
"Ryoko…" Ayeka spoke up hesitantly. "You know this man?" Ryoko nodded curtly.
"And so do you, Ayeka. You too Tenchi." Tenchi glanced at Ryoko, then turned his attention to Hotsuma, gazing at him intently. "Does 'The House of the Eternal Pledge' ring any bells?" Ryoko asked sarcastically. Ayeka gasped sharply and Tenchi stepped forward with a muffled oath.
"You!" he exclaimed. "You tried to force me to marry…Sakuya…" Ryoko turned away slightly, her jaw clenched. She hated how his voice softened whenever he spoke that name, his smooth tones stroking each syllable. Hotsuma did not fail to notice Ryoko's reaction. He studied his nails nonchalantly, speaking in a bored tone.
"Oh, so I did. Just think – if you'd only gone along with my plan, you and Sakuya would be living happily ever after right now. Too bad, really." Tenchi remained silent.
"Enough of this!" Ryoko bit off viciously, whirling around. "Are you going to fight me or not, Hotsuma?"
"I'd rather not, Princess," he said silkily, moving closer to her with quick, light steps. "Think of all we've been through together…do you really want to quarrel like this, or are you just upset about losing Tenchi's affection for the second time?" Ryoko moved her arm as if to ignite her energy sword, but Hotsuma caught her wrist in one fluid motion.
"Let go," Ryoko growled. Hotsuma raised one eyebrow sardonically, his long, tan fingers wrapped tightly around her pale wrist. His other arm shot out suddenly, gripping her slim waist and pulling her forcefully closer. Ryoko glared up at him from under cyan bangs, silently judging how to best free herself from his grasp. Hotsuma stared back down at her, a strange expression in his ice blue eyes. He turned her wrist over gently and brushed his lips over the sensitive skin located there.
"How I've missed the feel of your skin," he murmured hoarsely, his voice barely above a whisper. Ryoko faltered for a moment, caught off guard, and tried to jerk away. His only response was to hold her closer, her soft curves pressed against his lean, hard body. Tenchi growled under his breath and took a step forward, hands clenched into fists.
"What the hell is he talking about Ryoko?" he shouted angrily.
"Yes," Hotsuma said smiling. "Why not tell him the whole story, Ryoko dear?" Ryoko caught her breath, heart thumping furiously.
"It doesn't matter. It's none of your concern, Tenchi," she muttered, avoiding his gaze.
"Oh come now, Ryoko," Hotsuma said playfully, eyes narrowed into slits. "I think I should have the chance to redeem myself after you told such nasty stories about me." Ryoko opened her mouth to retort, looking outraged, but Hotsuma twisted her wrist sharply, making her wince and bite her lip to keep from crying out.
"Let's see," he mused thoughtfully, "I suppose it began when Ryoko caught Sakuya and Tenchi exchanging saliva on the school roof." Everyone gasped, with the exception of Ryoko, who looked at the ground sullenly, and Kiyone, who snapped her fingers and muttered, "So that was it!" She thought back to that day on Gaiyan, when she, Mihoshi, and Ryoko sat in a replica of the Masaki living room, talking. Trying to get a reaction out of Ryoko, she'd threatened to start pursuing Tenchi. Ryoko had merely shrugged it off, saying, "You're too late. When I last saw them, Tenchi and Sakuya…" Were kissing! Kiyone finished mentally.
"Ryoko…" Tenchi spoke up heavily. "I had no idea you were there…" His voice was filled with conflicting emotion – the pain of losing Sakuya, the guilt of hurting Ryoko.
"Of course not," Hotsuma replied cheerfully. "You were too busy sucking face with Sakuya. But it doesn't matter, because I was there to take care of her."
"He lured her away!" Kiyone put in headedly. "Took advantage of her shock and pain to turn her back to a life of crime!"
"I saved her!" Hotsuma hissed. "She belongs in space… She's a space pirate detective, crime is her business."
"Was her business," Kiyone corrected snappishly. "She's been reformed. You of all people should know that, Hotsuma. When Mihoshi and I infiltrated your base, rumors were already circulating about Ryoko's apparent unhappiness. It didn't matter how much she stole nothing was ever enough. She was trying to fill a void – something that couldn't be satiated with cold, hard cash or precious metals or pretty clothing. Something that she could only find at the Masaki house on Earth. It must've driven you mad, Hotsuma, knowing that you'd been beaten by a puny Earthling." Hotsuma snarled wordlessly, glaring at Kiyone murderously. Ryoko took advantage of his distraction by breaking free and igniting her energy sword. Hotsuma leapt back, narrowly avoiding a slash to his face.
"Alright, Princess, if this is how you want it," Hotsuma sighed, igniting his own sword. "I suppose I could just defeat you in battle and talk some sense into you later – away from these…people."
"Ha!" Ryoko sneered, beckoning him with the tip of her sword. He grinned and charged forward swiftly. Ryoko phased out of view, then reappeared high above him, shooting energy blasts from the palm of her hand. He dodged easily, taking to the air as well. The Masaki family craned their necks upwards to watch the two flit across the clear, blue sky, occasionally clashing swords in a shower of sparks. Tenchi tore his gaze away long enough to address the group.
"Quick – everyone please hand over their gems," Tenchi instructed. They all did so immediately, placing them on his outstretched hand. "Damn! I forgot – Ryoko still has hers! Ryo – " He started to call out to her, but Katsuhito place a hand on his arm.
"Tenchi, this is Ryoko's fight," he said quietly. "It is not a matter for the Guardian of Earth."
"Grandfather, I must do something!" Tenchi protested. "I can't bear this… What if he hurts her?" Tenchi glared up at Hotsuma's distant form in frustration. Katsuhito paused, considering.
"There may be something you can do," he said slowly. "Close your eyes and concentrate on Ryoko's gem." Tenchi obeyed without question, brow furrowed. Each one of the gems in his hand began to glow softly. Up above, Ryoko glimpsed a soft, blue glow emanating from the gem on her wrist. She paused to stare at it intently, forgetting her battle with Hotsuma. Hotsuma floated in front of her, glowering.
"Now, Tenchi," Katsuhito continued. "Direct all of your energy and desire to protect Ryoko into that gem." Tenchi bit his lower lip and closed his fingers over the gems in his hand.
Hotsuma gathered a ball of green energy between the palms of his hands, preparing to shock Ryoko into unconsciousness. He rushed forward with a shout of victory. Ryoko glanced up in surprise, throwing her hands up in a futile attempt to protect herself. Hotsuma thrust his crackling energy ball forward, just as a wall of blue light erupted around Ryoko. Hotsuma fell back with a cry, as Ryoko was encompassed in a globe of transparent blue. Ryoko gasped and looked around her in amazement.
"Dammit, he's protecting you!" Hotsuma raged. Ryoko followed his gazed down to where Tenchi stood, smiling grimly.
"Tenchi…" she whispered softly, reaching out with one hand.
"No!" Hotsuma shouted, swinging his blade down in a wide arc. It struck the shield and fizzled out. Ryoko raised her own sword and held the tip to the base of his throat.
"It's over, Hotsuma," she said calmly. He sighed heavily, raising his hands in a sign of mock surrender, a twist of a smile on his face. They floated to the ground slowly, never taking their eyes off another. When their feet touched the ground, Hotsuma lowered his hands and stepped forward, ignoring Ryoko's energy blade. He lifted one arm and held his palm an inch from the surface of the shield, tiny lightening bolts of energy pricking his hand menacingly.
"Why couldn't it work out between us Ryoko?" he questioned tenderly. Ryoko swallowed, her heart heavy with sorrow even after all he had put her through.
"I think you know," she responded bitterly. "It has something to do with you being Yugi's shadow and trying to kill me."
"What?!" Tenchi squawked, almost dropping Ryoko's shield.
"Well, I don't know about any murder attempt," Washu spoke up doubtfully, "but you are mistaken about Hotsuma being Yugi's shadow."
"Huh?" Ryoko's jaw dropped.
"Come again?" Hotsuma said in polite disbelieve.
"You are not a shadow," Washu said slowly and distinctly, barely containing her annoyance.
"Th-that's impossible!" Ryoko sputtered.
"I told you!" Hotsuma cried victoriously, like a child who'd said something merely to be obnoxious, only to discover he'd been right. "Didn't I tell you that the power in that gem transformed me into a real man?"
"No," Washu said in bewilderment, "you've never been a shadow." Hotsuma gaped at her.
"It can't be! She…lied to me?" He murmured, lost in thought.
"How could you possibly know all of this Washu?" Ryoko demanded.
"I've had all the appropriate data on my computer since Yugi attacked us a few years ago and he showed up to save the day."
"That's right… I forgot about that," Ryoko realized. Hotsuma rolled his eyes in disgust.
"They always forget the nice things I do," he muttered peevishly.
"But when you first saw him, you didn't recognize him!" Ryoko protested.
"It has been over three years, and I only got a glimpse of him," Washu snapped. "He's cute, but not that cute!" Hotsuma frowned and adjusted his glasses self-consciously.
"How exactly do you know that he's not Yugi's shadow?" Ryoko inquired stiffly, folding her arms.
"When he showed up at precisely the moment Yugi was about to destroy us all, able to block her blast easily when all five of us were helpless against her, it made me a little suspicious. So I compared his genetic make-up with Yugi's – it was a perfect match. Later, when I figured out that Sakuya was a shadow, I went back and tested Hotsuma as well. But when I viewed his organic energy field through the pulse filter, he retained the same form. Remember when I showed you the same thing with Sakuya, Tenchi?" Tenchi nodded grimly.
"She changed into Yugi." Washu nodded.
"Right. Therefore, Hotsuma is not a shadow, rather Yugi's creation."
"What's the difference?" Ryoko questioned, after absorbing this information.
"A shadow is merely an extension of oneself, while a 'creation' is a separate entity."
"All this time!" Hotsuma snarled. "That bitch told me I was a shadow! Why? Why lie?"
"I suspect to maintain a certain amount of control," Washu said. "The control of a creation lies in its mental upbringing – Yugi formed you to do a specific task, and to complete that task, you had to think a certain way. But if you strayed from her for too long, you might start forming your own opinions. By directly telling you that you were merely an extension of her, Yugi ensured that you would never question her actions. After all, what she wanted, you must have also wanted." Hotsuma considered Washu's theory.
"It makes sense," he admitted. "With regards to many things." He said the last more softly, gazing into Ryoko's eyes with a look that made her catch her breath. "Ryoko…" he floundered for a moment, searching for the right words, then spoke out firmly.
"Ryoko I love you." Ryoko felt something tear, deep inside her. "I don't want revenge, or retribution any longer. I just want you. Come with me." He offered his hand. "Let's go back to space, I don't care where. And we don't have to steal anymore, we can hold down steady jobs. I'll be the manager of a fast food restaurant, and you can be…a banker!" he laughed as he said it, and Ryoko felt herself smile wistfully in response. "So what do you say? Please, Ryoko? All I need is you." He spoke as if he was right next to her, stroking her hair and cupping her face lovingly. But he wasn't. He stood at least two feet away, barricaded from her by this shield – by Tenchi's shield. Ryoko turned slightly, seeking him out. Her friends, her family, regarded her silently. She met Ayeka's gaze first.
"Do whatever makes you happy," Ayeka said simply, smiling encouragingly. Ryoko smiled back in thanks, eyes trailing past the princess. Katsuhito entered her range of vision.
"It's a decision you alone must make," he offered tranquilly. Ryoko nodded. Mihoshi's loud bawling claimed her attention next.
"Oh, this is so sad! Ryoko's leaving?"
"Shut-up!" Kiyone commanded, slapping her in the back of the head. "Don't make this any harder for her." Ryoko hide a grin at the two GP officers' antics. "Ryoko, you know where I stand," Kiyone said shortly, frowning at Hotsuma. Sasami's quivering lip was the next thing Ryoko noticed.
"I'll miss you if you leave, Ryoko," she said in a small voice, hands clasped. Ryo-ohki meowed in agreement from her perch on the younger princess' shoulder. Ryoko gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't be a stranger to earth, partner," Washu said heartily, winking. Ryoko grinned in response, shaking her head. She shifted her gaze up and found herself staring directly into Tenchi's eyes.
"Don't be a damned fool," he said coldly. "He's just tricking you to get back at me." Ryoko felt her nails biting sharply into the palms of her hands as tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
"You know," she choked out, fighting the urged to scream, "contrary to what you may believe, it is possible for someone to love me!"
"Any idiot can see that he doesn't love you!" Tenchi shouted.
"Oh don't be so modest Tenchi," she said with false sweetness. "Your not just any idiot… You're the king of idiots!" Unable to fight the tears any longer, she whirled around and wiped her eyes furtively. "Come on, Hotsuma," she addressed the impassive pirate, "I suddenly find this place extremely nauseating." She glared over her shoulder at Tenchi. "Would you release me from this stupid shield-bubble thing?"
"Gladly!" he snapped, doing so. The shield crackled and disappeared.
"Are you ready, Hotsuma?" Ryoko asked uncertainly. He regarded her with hooded eyes.
"Yes… I just have one more thing to take care of." He lifted his arm slowly, never taking his eyes off Ryoko, and released a short, powerful blast. Ryoko followed it with wide eyes as it headed directly for Tenchi.
MWAHAHAHAHA…HA…ha…*ack*… Cliffhangers – gotta love 'em. And the beautiful thing is, with me, you don't know if the next chapter is coming tomorrow, or in three months! MWAHA – okay, let's not start that again. Of course, we could make some sort of deal… For every 10 reviews I get, it'll be one less day you have to wait for the next chappie. Oh yes, I like the sound of that! MWA – argh, I gotta shake that habit!