'K, I have a slightly better reason for being so late with this chapter…I was on vacation!!! Yup, I flew up to Seattle, Washington, hung out there for a while, then went up to Alaska (both places are incredibly awesome – I highly recommend visiting sometime in your lifetimes). ANYWAY, this is the LAST chapter! I finally finished!!! Thanks soo much for all your reviews…they really motivated me…I love you guys! *sob*
Ryoko floated in a vast pool of darkness in which everything was blissfully silent and black. Then a strange buzzing attacked her ears. Ryoko's browed wrinkled in annoyance and confusion. She decided that the buzzing must be a fly and tried to raise one hand to bat it away. However, her muscles didn't seem to be working properly. She exerted all of her energy and only managed to wiggle her index finger slightly. Meanwhile, the buzzing had become unbearable. Ryoko rolled her eyes around and tried to remember how to operate her eyelids. After several experiments and failed attempts, her eyes opened in narrow slits.
The blinding light pierced her eyeballs like millions of tiny daggers. Ryoko blinked several times to adjust to the brightness, then slid her gaze around the room slowly. Washu tapped away at her computer, pink fuzz head never glancing up, and Tenchi was stationed a ways off, sitting sideways in his chair. Ryoko felt a wave of relief wash over her. Tenchi was safe. But then she noticed the figure sitting next to him, talking and laughing animatedly. Sakuya.
Ryoko blinked rapidly. No. Sakuya was a shadow, Sakuya, was dead. And more importantly, Sakuya had black hair. This girl was a blond. Of course…Yugi. A grown-up, Sakuya-like Yugi. Ryoko closed her eyes and decided not to open them again. Ever.
"Ryoko." Ryoko ignored the voice and concentrated on her plan to sleep to death. "Ryoko, wake up." Ryoko thought about waking up just long enough to kill the annoying, disembodied voice, but decided against it. "Come on, Ryoko, I know you can wake up if you want to."
"Don't want to." The words slipped out before she could stop herself.
"Tenchi and Sak- I mean Yugi are gone." Ryoko opened one I cautiously. The pink haired scientist leaned back, looking relieved. "I convinced them to go eat something."
"Thanks," Ryoko said dryly, pondering the most graceful method of sitting up. Washu slid one hand under her back and gripped her left arm, pulling her up. "Thanks," Ryoko repeated, more sincerely. Washu shrugged and grinned.
"You wouldn't have listened if I told you to stay still."
"So Tenchi and S-Yugi are downstairs?" Ryoko asked casually, swinging her legs over the edge of the table and moving them experimentally. Washu looked at her sharply.
"She does look an awful lot like Sakuya, doesn't she?"
"Well, I predicted it," Ryoko said bitterly, remember her and Tenchi's chat on the limb of that tree. "She's grown up quite a bit in two years, hasn't she?"
"She accelerated her aging process. She's about sixteen, physically." Ryoko laughed shortly.
"And her hair? I remember it being long."
"She had Sasami cut it, the day after she woke up. Interesting style she chose, isn't it?"
"More like predictable," Ryoko said bitterly. "Yugi, like so many other girls, turned sweet on Tenchi and is using his love for Sakuya to win him over."
"Well she is Sakuya, in a way," Washu pointed out. Ryoko shrugged.
"What does it matter to me?" she asked dully. "I never had a chance."
Ryoko entered the kitchen slowly, head held regally, concentrating on keeping her legs from wobbling. The cheery chatter died with her entrance and everyone stared.
"Ryoko!" Tenchi blurted at last, stumbling to his feet. "I can't believe you're up! I mean, Washu said that you were – "
"As you see, I'm fine," Ryoko cut him off coldly. She moved to an empty seat and sat down carefully. Mihoshi, who was sitting beside her, burst into tears and threw her arms around the ex-pirate.
"Ryoko we were so worried!"
"Choking…no oxygen…" Ryoko gasped. Kiyone reached over with an irritated sigh and detached Mihoshi.
"I see you finally dragged your lazy bones out of bed," Ayeka commented snidely, but smiled warmly.
"Well I wouldn't want to irritate you, princess," Ryoko responded sarcastically, also smiling. Her smile disappeared when she caught sight of the girl sitting between Ayeka and Tenchi. "Hello, Yugi. Or would you prefer Sakuya?" Yugi's blue eyes widened.
"Yugi's fine," she said softly.
"She awoke last week, Ryoko," Katsuhito told her calmly. "The same day of the battle against Hotsuma."
"Of course," Ryoko said lowly. "So it's been a week, has it?" Ryoko reached out to grab a bowl of rice and felt her shoulder twinge. She gasped sharply and cursed, slumping against the table.
"Ryoko!" Sasami cried worriedly. Tenchi leapt from his seat and hurried over to her.
"You're not strong enough yet," he said firmly, helping her sit up. "You need to go back to bed."
"Stop fussing, Tenchi!" Ryoko snapped. "I'm fine. Although," she said, troubled, "I can't believe how badly Hotsuma injured me with one pathetic blast."
"It was a special technique I taught him," Yugi spoke up miserably. All eyes turned to her. "Hotsuma had the ability to create a sort of bond with another individual and feed off of that person's energy, increasing his own strength and eventually killing that person." Ryoko's eyes narrowed, not appreciating the idea of a bond between her and Hotsuma.
"Would the bond also let him read that person's mind?" Ryoko inquired finally, remembering how Hotsuma always seemed to know what she was feeling. Yugi nodded.
"But why didn't he use it on me before?" Yugi shook her head, shrugging.
"My guess is that he did, and you just didn't know about it," Washu commented shrewdly.
"What?" Ryoko asked, startled.
"Well, think about it… That would explain why he was able to stay alive after your previous battle, even after you dealt him a killing blow. He simply drew a small amount of energy from you. And for two years, he maintained the bond, stealing only enough energy to stay alive." Ryoko recalled his reaction to Sasami's cooking, as if he'd never tasted food before.
"And when he appeared in the forest, unconscious and weak – "
"It was because you hadn't eaten anything for six months and didn't have enough energy to spare for him," Washu finished. "I'll bet he even caused those nightmares you had, a kind of twisted warning." Ryoko clenched her teeth.
"He could have finished me off at anytime, sucking me dry of all my energy."
"So," Ayeka mused. "He was using both his and Ryoko's power…that's why he could destroy my shield so easily!"
"Yeah, he almost killed everyone," Ryoko said darkly. "How would you like to have Sasami's death on your conscience Yugi?" Yugi gasped and looked at Sasami woefully.
"That's enough, Ryoko!" Tenchi thundered. Ryoko rolled her eyes and pushed away from the table, standing up and stalking out of the kitchen. Tenchi followed her. When they reached the living room he grabbed her arm and spun her around.
"Ow! Watch it, Tenchi!"
"What the hell is the matter with you Ryoko? Why are you being so rude to Yugi?"
"You mean, why should I hate her besides the fact that she once tried to kill me, not to mention yo - the others?"
"You forgave her for that! You were happy with my decision to bring her back to Okayama with us."
"I was happy when she decided to sleep for the next however many years, until she grew up. I didn't know she was going to cheat and accelerate her aging. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, though."
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh, wake up, Tenchi! The girl's in love with you! She's made herself look as much like Sakuya as possible!"
"What?" Tenchi sputtered. Ryoko wrenched her arm out of his grasp and stormed up the stairs.
"So here's your chance, Tenchi," Ryoko flung over her shoulder. "You've finally got your beloved Sakuya back."
Tenchi paced the living room after Ryoko had left. Things just got more and more complicated. It seemed that where Ryoko was concerned, he did nothing but screw up.
"And now this Yugi thing," Tenchi groaned out loud.
"Tenchi?" Tenchi spun around. Speak of the devil. Yugi stood hesitantly in the doorway, eyes wide and uncertain.
"Uh, Yugi…just who I wanted to talk to," Tenchi said smiling while inwardly cringing.
"I think I know what about," Yugi told him, crossing over to the couch. "We all heard your conversation with Ryoko. It wasn't exactly whispered."
"Oh," Tenchi responded weakly, rubbing the back of his head. "I - "
"No, Tenchi let me." She straightened her shoulders and gazed at Tenchi unwaveringly. "I guess it's no secret I like you Tenchi."
"Yugi – "
"I suppose it was inevitable. After all, you did save me, even if it was from myself." Yugi looked down at her lap and blushed, ashamed. "But Tenchi – I'd have to be blind not to see that you totally and completely love Ryoko." Tenchi blanched and stared.
"I…oh." Yugi smiled.
"The others can see it too, Tenchi. And frankly, they all wonder what's taking you so long to make your move."
"But…" Tenchi protested. "I didn't want to hurt anyone!"
"They love you Tenchi and want you to be happy!" Yugi exclaimed earnestly. "Ayeka will take it hardest, but she's trying to prepare herself. The others think of you as a friend."
"What about you?" Tenchi asked quietly. Yugi turned pink.
"It's just a crush," she muttered, twisting her hands together. "I remember what you and Sakuya were like together and I envied that. I wanted that." Tenchi nodded and smiled, then leaned over and hugged her.
"Thank you Yugi," he told her seriously. Yugi ducked her head and smiled in return.
"But Tenchi, you'd better hurry or you're going to lose her." Tenchi sighed and rubbed his face tiredly.
"Yugi…I'm afraid that I already have."
Ryoko hobbled down the stairs, clinging to the banister and cursing softly under her breath. Her shoulder began to throb and she clenched her teeth while she waited for the pain to pass. It wasn't as though she'd never been injured before, but she'd never experienced the sore, aching muscles. Washu told her that she still lacked sufficient energy for her advanced healing to kick.
"I don't know how earthlings endure this," Ryoko muttered, reaching the floor and shuffling to the kitchen. She paused in the doorway, eyes widening in surprise. Tenchi stood with his back to her, hands planted on either side of the sink, the moonlight flooding through the window and outlining him in silvery light.
"Tenchi?" Ryoko blurted hesitantly, torn between maintaining an aloof silence and relieving her mounting concern. Tenchi whirled around.
"Ryoko! I didn't hear you," he said, forcing a smiling. Ryoko ventured further into the room, desperately trying to walk upright.
"Are you okay?" she asked gruffly.
"Of course! Why do you ask? I'm…" His shoulders sagged and his voice dropped down to a whisper. "I'm terrible."
"Tenchi?" Ryoko whispered worriedly.
"God, Ryoko, I can't go on like this…it's tearing me apart! I keep thinking about the expression on his face right before…" Tenchi closed his eyes and said lowly, "All I could think about was killing him, destroying him."
"Hotsuma," Ryoko stated, her face unreadable.
"Yes," Tenchi said softly. He looked so miserable and hurt that Ryoko moved instinctively to comfort him. He wrapped his arms around her waist gratefully and rested his chin on her shoulder. "He's the first man I've ever killed. Did you think I wouldn't feel guilty? I am human, Ryoko." The bitterness in his voice surprised her.
"Why should you feel guilty?" she demanded. "Hotsuma was insane and he was a threat to everyone in this family." Tenchi leaned back and stared at her intensely.
"But didn't you – I thought you loved him!"
"No way!" Ryoko snapped, turning her head and avoiding Tenchi's gaze. He watched her silently. "Well," she sighed softly, looking down, "I'll admit I almost fell for him…more than once…but I could never forget – " she broke off suddenly, blushing.
"You could never forget what?" Tenchi asked gently. Ryoko shifted uncomfortably and tried to pull away, but Tenchi tightened his grip.
"I could never forget – you," she blurted finally, cheeks burning. "I know you don't feel the same way about me," she continued quickly, "but I – Tenchi?!" He continued to kiss her neck, moving slowly up her neck, hands sliding up to cradle her head. "What are you doing?!" Tenchi released her and stepped back, taking a deep breath.
"Sorry, I was just so relieved to hear that you still…sorry." Ryoko wrapped her arms around herself and tried to forget the heat of his lips on her skin.
"Tenchi, what are you doing to me?" she cried, eyes filling with tears. "I stay by your side for years, hoping that, despite the overwhelming competition, you would come to love me. Then, last week, you basically tell me I never had a chance and I make plans to leave for good. Now here you are kissing me! Make up your goddamn mind!" Her eyes flashed and she clenched her fists, but her voice quavered slightly. Tenchi flushed.
"I know, I'm sorry…I wanted to explain what I said on the roof that night…and apologize for not believing you about Hotsuma." Ryoko folded her arms and tried to look indifferent. "When I said that you were completely wrong for me, I didn't mean I could never love you." Ryoko glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "I just meant that we're complete opposites." Ryoko opened her mouth. "Don't deny it, Ryoko, you know it's true. But I used to think that meant we could never be happy together. I had feelings for you but I never followed up on them because I thought it would never work. Ryoko, I was thinking too much. It's like the shrine keeper in Matsuyama said, 'it's a choice of the heart, not the mind.'" Ryoko regarded him silently.
"You know," she said finally. "Hotsuma used to tell me that we were so alike we were almost the same person – as if that was proof that we were meant to be together. But I knew I was meant to be with you for the exact opposite reason - because we're so dissimilar." She stepped closer and gazed at Tenchi intensely. "My weaknesses are your strengths, your weaknesses are my strengths. Alone, I'm half a person…with you, I'm complete."
"Ryoko," Tenchi murmured. "I love you."
"I know," Ryoko answered, phasing into his arms and leaning her head against his chest. "But it took you a damn long time to figure it out."
"Sorry." He dragged a finger up her spine, making her arch against him.
"Sorry is not good enough." He tilted her head back and pressed his lips against hers firmly.
"Forgiven?" he inquired, smiling.
"Are you kidding? You caused me four years of psychological damage. You think one kiss is going to fix that?" Tenchi frowned.
"Then what do you suggest?" Ryoko smirked, eyes narrowing.
"Hmm…what do you think, Tenchi? Your room, or mine…"
Hmmm…whaddaya think they're going to be doing…ALL NIGHT LONG!! Yeah, baby! Er – sorry, I just saw Austin Powers 3 and I'm feeling a little raunchy. You understand. Okay, although you don't technically have to review to get me to put up another chapter…DO IT ANYWAY!! Heh. Please?