Disclaimer: Don't even get me started.... You all should know the answer
anyway. ;_;
A.N. Ok, I'm just going to say this once, and only once. Then you'll all have to figure it out for yourselves if you don't listen. K? Here it is......
This Is NOT An Ayeka And Ryoko Lesbian Fic! Got It?! No offence to the people who like yuri and all, I just could never see them as as a les couple. Sorry. They just don't seem to mesh that well. Ok? I promised a T/R fic, and I plan on keeping it that way. So to all of you who were wanting a T/R fic (Space Pirate Minagi and Jyl), I did it like I promised. T/R all the way! So here it is, enjoy!
And thx for the early Happy Birthday Shaina! I appreciate it! Even though it's past my b-day now, but who cares. And here's the next chapter just like I promised. Took me a lot longer than I intended. And I tried putting this chapter up sooner. But things got a little busy around here. So here it is, finally. And thx everyone for the reviews and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Review when u'r done plz! Thx!
'...thoughts...' "...talking..." ---...notes...--- (...me talking...) ~*~...lyrics...~*~ ~...reading...~ //...time/place...// ::...any other needed to know info...::
Unheard Love
Ryoko walked around the castle grounds, her heart breaking with each passing day. Her dried tears still prominent on her face. She walked to a balcony, walking to the far end, and looked over at the scenery of Jurai. Her new home planet. She wanted so much to be with the man she loved. But now she realized that it could not be. No matter how hard she might have tried in the past. She wanted so much to live the life of her old. But now wanted nothing more than peace in her life. And for her memeories to leave her in peace as well. But no matter what she might have tried, they continued to haunt her. For all eternity it seemed to her.
Her mother, who moved in with her daughter shortly after Ryoko returned to Jurai, watched her daughter. She watched her daughter's sadness continue to grow each solemn day passing. She watched her daughter's tears fall from her golden eyes. She watched her daughter's love for life slowly die with each day. She felt her daughter's heart break every sad day that passed them by. She felt her daughter's happiness deminish to nothing. She felt her daughter dieing in the inside. And she could do nothing to help her. Which in the end, caused her own pain inside. She wanted so much for her daughter to be happy. To live the life that she wanted. But she could do nothing because the man Ryoko loved never seemed to love her back. No matter how much she wanted it.
And Ayeka too watched as her friend did her daily routine of her walk around the castle. She didn't know what to do to help her friend. She wanted so much to cheer her up, but had no clue what to do. She learned that Ryoko never finished her book that Tenchi had given her weeks ago. Almost months ago. So here she was, holding the book that Tenchi had given Ryoko, contemplating rather she should read it. Or if she should wait, and have Ryoko read it for herself. She asked her fiancee what she should or could do, but all he said was that for her to do what she felt right. And what she felt right now was to read the last entry and to find what Tenchi had said. Even though a part of her knew it was wrong, something inside of her told her to do it.
So now her she was, reading the last entry of Tenchi's book. When she was done, she felt like tears would fall from her eyes. She looked up and looked outside, watching the breeze rustle the leaves of the trees. She stood up and placed Tenchi's book back on the table where she found it and walked out of the room to her own. She found a few servents tidying it up and dismissed them, saying she wanted to be left alone.
When they left, she walked to a large mirror and pressed something on the wall, causing the mirror to flip around and become a large vidscreen. She typed something in on the keypad on the side of it and waited for something, or someone, to answer. When someone did, she saw the face of a surprised Tenchi looking striaght at her.
"Hey Ayeka! Nice to see ya!" he greeted with a small smile on his face.
"Hello Lord Tenchi. It's a pleasure to see you again as well."
"So, what did you call for?"
"It's..... It's about Ryoko."
"Ryoko? What about her? Is she there with you?"
"She's here. Just.... walking around right now."
"Well, what's wrong with her then?"
"Tenchi... She..... She's not herself lately."
"What do you mean "not herself"?"
"Lord Tenchi, for the past 2 weeks since we came back, all she's ever done is walk around the castle, mooping around. She's been doing nothing but crying and keeping to herself. She won't talk much anymore, it's like she's dieing inside. And no one knows why, except Washu...... and me."
"I don't understand. Has she ever read the whole book yet?"
"No, it's like she's totally forgotten about that...." Tenchi looked down in dismay, but looked back up at Ayeka at what he heard next. "But I have..."
"W...What? You read the last entry as well?..."
"Yes, I did...... Look Lord Tenchi. I love you, you know that. And even though I'm marrying someone else because of my father's wishes, I always will. Even if I do fall in love with him as well. You'll always have a place in my heart for all eternity. But... you can't just keep hiding or running away from things. You should've said something about it while you had a chance when we left. Then maybe she wouldn't be like this. And you know that. Deep down inside, you do." Tenchi looked down in shame at Ayeka's words. "Tomorrow, before lunch, I'm opening a portal over at your house. It's your choice if you come or not and tell what you've been meaning to for so long. And if you don't, I understand. But then you'll be missing the one, and probably only, chance to tell her. So I'll let you think about it. But for now, I need to get back. I have to find Ryoko so we can go take care of something for father tonite. Goodbye Lord Tenchi."
"...Goodbye Ayeka. Tell everyone I said hi, k?"
"Alright. Will do."
And with that, the screen went black. Tenchi sat down on the edge of his bed as the screen disappeared to from where it came from. Tenchi slowly walked out of his room and downstairs to the living room. He kept his eyes to the floor, acknowledging none of his surroundings and anyone that might have been there. He walked to the front window and looked out towards the lake. Nothing to him seemed right anymore since the departure of his two friends. And now... now it seemed worse to him. Nothing was what it was anymore, and he feared nothing ever would again.
Sasami, who has just walked out of the kitchen, noticed Tenchi standing by the window, his right hand and forehead leaned against the glass framing. Her normal, cheery dispostion turned into that of sadness as she watched her close friend sadly. She knew of his sadness for her sister's and best friend's departure. Even though she knew that she had known less about something that she couldn't put her finger on just yet, she had a pretty good idea. She sighed sadly and walked back into the kitchen to start lunch, knowing that there was nothing she could do.
When Tenchi finally snapped out of this daydreaming, she sighed and walked outside. He walked up the shrine steps, stopping when she saw some Sakura's. He quietly walked up to the one he always found Ryoko in, climbed to a large branch, and sat there quietly, just watching whatever was in front of him.
"And what are you doing up there boy? Shouldn't you be working in the fields right about now?"
Tenchi looked down in surprise, seeing his grandfather below him. 'How is it I never hear him come up to me?' Tenchi looked back up, ignoring the question that was asked of him. "What? Not talking to your grandfather now?"
"........ Grandpa, what did you do when you fell in love with grandma?"
"Hum? Well, as you can plainly see, I married her and stayed on earth. Why do you ask?"
"And what did Jurai have to say about it?"
"Father was angry at me of course because I chose her instead of marrying Ayeka. But I loved you grandmother. So I swore that I'd stay on earth until he accepted her. But why are you asking me these questions?"
"::sigh:: No reason really, I've just been thinking about a lot lately."
"Does this have to do with a certain space pirate and a princess?"
"Huh? You could say that. How did you guess?"
"The look in your eyes. Haven't I taught you anything these last ump-teen years?"
"::chuchkle:: Yea, yea. Eyes see straight to your soul. I remember. I remember. Who could forget. I've used that many times since the girls came here."
"Um, well, seems as though you forgot to use it once."
Tenchi looked down at his grandfather and sighed, understanding what he meant. He leaned his head against the bark of the tree and closed his eyes. "Why do things always seem to happen to me?"
"Because. You're a young man. You have to do a lot of things to get through life. And being the rightful hier to a throne doesn't help you much."
"::chuckle:: Good point..... Got a call from Ayeka today."
"Really? And how is she doing?"
"Fine I guess."
"What did she call for?"
"To tell me about Ryoko."
"Ummmm, and what about Ryoko that she wanted to tell you?"
"... Just that Ryoko hasn't been acting herself. Appearently she's been mooping around the palace. Not at all interested in anything it seemed."
"And you know why she's like this, don't you my boy?"
"Um hum. Unfortunately I do."
"Then why don't you do something about it? It might just make everything better."
"But I'm the one who started it in the first place."
"Which gives you the perfect excuse to make everything right. Just remember what I told you, listen to your heart, not you head."
And with that said, Katsuhito walked off, leaving the disgruntled Tenchi in the tree. He looked up into the blossoms above him and sighed. 'What am I going to do?....' After a few moments of silence, he made up his mind and jumped down, running back towards the house. He ran up to his room, typed something out on the keypad that lay on his desktop. As a screen appeared from a demension that Washu left behind, Ayeka's confused face could be seen from inside.
"Tenchi? What are you calling for?"
"Ayeka, answer a few questions for me, will ya?"
"Huh? Oh, sure I guess."
"Where are you opening at?"
"Oh, in Miss Washu's old lab. Just walk in. It'll be there."
"Where will I end up when I get there?"
"In my room. I didn't want anyone seeing you and thinking you were trying to break in."
"Alright. Could you do me a favor then?"
"What's that exactly?"
"Open the portal now for me will ya?"
"What? But why?"
"I'll explain everything when I get there. Just do this for me, ok?"
"........ ::sigh:: Alright Tenchi. Be downstairs and ready in five minutes. If you're not, then you'll just have to wait till tomorrow."
"No prob. Just as long as it's open in five minutes."
"It will. I'll see you later then Lord Tenchi."
Ayeka turned off her vidscreen and continued to look at it in shook. 'What is he planning?' she asked herself as she began typing in a new code on her keypad. And in a few minutes, her mirror was replaced by a portal. She typed in a time for the portal to hold and walked to a chair. Waiting to see if he'd make it through or not.
//With Tenchi//
Tenchi ran downstairs after having the vidscreen disappear once again. As he reached the livingroom, he found Kiyone, Mihoshi, and Sasami watching their soaps. "Hey Tenchi? What's all the hubbub?" asked Kiyone when she turned her attention to Tenchi.
"Nothing really. Just going to Jurai."
"Jurai?!" the three girls yelled in unison.
"Is there an echo in here? Yes Jurai. I have to go see Ryoko about something."
"What's that Tenchi?" asked Sasami when she walked up to him.
"Nothing that you need to worry about. Alright?"
"Can we come?" asked Mihoshi when she joined Sasami and stood next to her.
"Yea, it's been a couple of weeks. We'd like to see Ayeka and Ryoko again as well," said Kiyone as she too joined her friends.
Tenchi looked at his friends/family. Wondering if he should let them join him or not. Finally after debating it, for what seemed list almost an hour, he smiled and nodded his head. Conferming his answer.
"Yeah!" Sasami jumped up and hugged Tenchi. "We get to see Ryoko and Ayeka again!"
The others too were happy, all of them hugging and thanking Tenchi for letting them go with him to see their friends again. Soon after, a small spark could be heard in the closet behind Tenchi. Tenchi turned around and opened the door. And low-and-behold, there was the portal that Ayeka had opened. Tenchi ordered the others to follow him and to keep up, knowing that the portal didn't last long.
Tenchi and the other's ran through the now opened portal, the girls trying their best to keep up with Tenchi. When they finally reached the other end, they found themselves in the palace of Jurai, with Ayeka looking straight at them.
"Where is she?" asked Tenchi the moment he walked out of the portal and stepped on the clean tile of her room.
"Um, I'm not too sure. Try her room. On the balcony. It's 5 rooms down on the right. Left side," replied Ayeka just before Tenchi ran out of the room.
"Where is he going, sister?" asked Sasami as she walked up to Ayeka.
"Oh, you'll know soon. But right now, let's just leave him alone. I'll have someone get us some tea. And I'll explain what I can."
Ayeka then told one of the servents wondering the hall to get them some tea, then the rest of the day off.
//Back with Tenchi//
Just after Ayeka explained where Ryoko's room had been, he ran straight to the door and out. Not even bothering to say good-bye to his friends. He ran exactly to his right, five rooms down from Ayeka's to his left. When he walked inside, not even making a sound, he saw no one in the room. So he walked to the balcony, just as Ayeka had said, finding Ryoko sitting on the ledge, her knees to her chest. Her chin resting on top with her eyes closed. Ryoko not even hearing him walk up beside her.
Tenchi placed a hand on her shoulder, making her jump slightly. She almost fell off the side of the balcony when she saw who it was. When she gained her balance on the ground of the balcony, with the help of Tenchi, she quickly turned around and tried whipping off the dried tears that lay on her cheeks. Key word, tried.
Tenchi smiled slightly and turned her around so that she was facing him, although her head was still faced to her side, her eyes watching the ground. "Ryoko... Ryoko, please look at me." Ryoko shook her head, not wanting to look up at him. Afraid that she'd fall in love all over again, and then be hurt once more. "Ryoko, please." Tenchi placed his nimble fingers underneath her chin, forcing her her to look at him. "That's better. Now I can see who I'm talking to without feeling as though I'm talking to your hair." Ryoko smiled and chuckled slightly at Tenchi's attempt of humor. "See, now I can see your smile again. I was beginning to miss it."
Ryoko finally looked up at Tenchi, her golden embers looking straight into his chocolate orbs. "What is it you want that you came all the way here Tenchi?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Guess I wanted to see you again." Tenchi led Ryoko to a stone bench on the side of the balcony, having her take a seat next to him. "And plus, I needed to tell you something really important."
"Hum... And what might that be?"
Tenchi was quiet for a few moments, as though trying to piece together what he was going to say. "....... I'm not too sure how to say this... Ha, in fact, I don't think I'll ever be able to get this straight without it sounding backwards or something..... Ryoko, about me having to choose someone, which I've had to do for ages now... I finally chose one of you."
"... Really? That's a good thing. ::swallows:: And who might that be? Ayeka? Maybe even Sasami when she gets old enough? Hell, maybe even my mom?....."
"Ryoko, for one, your mom freaks me out at times, so that should tell you right there that it's not her."
Ryoko chuckled and stood up, taking a small sigh and walking to the end of her balcony. "Tenchi, I don't really care who it was that you chose. Just as long as you did..... And whoever it may be, I'll be happy for you... For both of you. Ha, I just wish I could've gotton a chance to prove myself. Instead of just being booted out of your choosing of women period."
"Ryoko, you were never booted from the 'listing' of women."
"Tenchi, just let me finish. Alright?..... I just want you to know this." Ryoko was looking straight ahead of her, not even daring to look behind her at Tenchi, who had walked up a few feet behind her. "... I loved you. You know that don't you? In fact, I still do. And I think I always will. And whoever it is that you chose, I hope you'll be happy. Even if it wasn't me..."
"Ryoko, stop this." Tenchi turned Ryoko around once again and lifted her chin to look into her eyes. Just wanting to lose himself in them like the first time he had oh so many years ago. "Ryoko, I'm glad that you said all that you did about whoever it was that I chose.. And I'm glad that you'll be happy for me. Especially since....."
Ryoko looked up at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears, yet also with curiosity. "'Especially what' Tenchi?"
Tenchi smiled at her, leaning forward so that he was whispering in her ear. "Especailly since it was you that I chose."
Ryoko's eye's became wise with shock. Her eye's filling with new unshed tears of joy. Her heart lifting of so many dreadful years of disappointment and anguish. Yet, she still felt sad. She felt sad for having her best friend's love for Tenchi slowly die away, and decay the piece of her heart that was filled with that love. She buried her face in Tenchi's shoulder, crying her new, joyful, yet saddened tears of her life.
Tenchi just held her close, whispering soothing words in her ear, just listening as her tears slowly died down and she finally looked up at him again. "I... I don't get it Tenchi, why did you chose me?"
"Because..." Tenchi slipped some misplaced hair behind her ear and whipped away the glistening tears from her feline features. "... I think I fell in love with you a long time ago, I just never knew it until resently(sp?)."
"Really? How long?"
"Years."
Ryoko smiled, her sadness slowly drifting away, somehow knowing that her friend, her best friend, Ayeka had wanted this. Tenchi smiled back and leaned in again. This time to give Ryoko their first, real kiss.
As their lips met, a wind began blowing. Sending fallen leaves to flow around them. Dancing around their bodies as they held each other. And as the wind blew by, Tenchi's book to Ryoko flew open. Pages blowing by, suddenly stopping at the very last entry. The entry read....
---Dear whoever is reading this. Whether it be my friends, my family, or just the night stars as I sit on the roof writing this. I have finally figured something out. Something I never thought I ever would. I figured out who I love. And it may sound strange, but I think I fell in love with her so long ago, and I didn't even realize it till now. But something about reading this book over helped me realize it. And I'm glad it did. Cause now I don't have to go around, having everyone's hopes of me loving them further berade their lives as I continue walking around not knowing a thing. As though not even knowing what love means. And even though this might break one person's, if not more, heart, I think she'll understand. Actually, I know she will. I just have that gut feeling.
But as to who I love. Here's a hint. Tall, beautiful, great personality, not afraid to show her true self if she feels anyone needs to know what it is. Cyan hair, golden cat eyes, a goddess. Have any clues?..... Yep, you got it right. Ryoko. Ryoko Hakubi is the one i love. I just want to know why I never realized it before. Maybe because I was always expected to know who I loved that I never really, truely looked inside my heart for the answer. But I'm glad I did, cause now I know I can at least tell the one who I do love, and not hurt the other's as much as I already might've.
And so I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna send this book/journel to the one I love. Send this to the one I know who truely deserves to read it. She has to right to know the truth. As to whether she'll except this as my answer to who I finally chose or not is beyond me. I'll just have to wait and find out. Hopefully she will read it though. Because then she knows that I love her. So I guess I have just this to say to you Ryoko if you are reading this.....
Ryoko Hakubi, ex-most wanted space pirate, now royal Jurain family. The only person who watched me and took care of me even though you weren't really there. The one who comforted me when my mother died. The demi- goddess who deserves more than I could possibly ever give her..... I love you. And even though this doesn't seem much of an "I love you" type deal, I truely do. I love you with the deepest, most precious part of my heart and soul, I love you more than you could possibly ever know. And I hope you realize this sometime soon. And I hope that someday, I have the guts to tell you in the furture, in front of you. And not in a stupid book. Whenever that may be. Maybe when you come back to us. Maybe when I ever get there. Who knows. All I can give you right now is the love through this book. And I hope that this might be enough to statisfy you until I can say it in person.
So here I am. Tenchi Masaki, in love with the most beautiful person in this universe. And I hope she reads this, or I tell her. And one day, I think I will get the courage to tell her. And when I do, then maybe we can live together in happiness, like my father and mother did before she died. Then maybe she'll have the life she's always wanted. But until then, this'll just have to do. And remember Ryoko, no matter what, I'll always love you.
Your's truely, Tenchi Masaki---
~*~ FIN ~*~
A.N. There you all are! The last chapter! Unless you wanted me to continue, then I could probably think of something to continue this with. Actually, I probably could. Who knows. So PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ (ok, i think you get the drift) REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would so love you guys (or girls) forever! Well, friend wise anyway. :p So plz do so and tell me what you all thought of this whole story. And now that I have a new story out, you all can read that one too! lol. You don't have to if you don't want to, but I'd really appreciate it if you all did. So until I see you guys again, Ja!!!!!
~*~ Q.M. ~*~
A.N. Ok, I'm just going to say this once, and only once. Then you'll all have to figure it out for yourselves if you don't listen. K? Here it is......
This Is NOT An Ayeka And Ryoko Lesbian Fic! Got It?! No offence to the people who like yuri and all, I just could never see them as as a les couple. Sorry. They just don't seem to mesh that well. Ok? I promised a T/R fic, and I plan on keeping it that way. So to all of you who were wanting a T/R fic (Space Pirate Minagi and Jyl), I did it like I promised. T/R all the way! So here it is, enjoy!
And thx for the early Happy Birthday Shaina! I appreciate it! Even though it's past my b-day now, but who cares. And here's the next chapter just like I promised. Took me a lot longer than I intended. And I tried putting this chapter up sooner. But things got a little busy around here. So here it is, finally. And thx everyone for the reviews and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Review when u'r done plz! Thx!
'...thoughts...' "...talking..." ---...notes...--- (...me talking...) ~*~...lyrics...~*~ ~...reading...~ //...time/place...// ::...any other needed to know info...::
Unheard Love
Ryoko walked around the castle grounds, her heart breaking with each passing day. Her dried tears still prominent on her face. She walked to a balcony, walking to the far end, and looked over at the scenery of Jurai. Her new home planet. She wanted so much to be with the man she loved. But now she realized that it could not be. No matter how hard she might have tried in the past. She wanted so much to live the life of her old. But now wanted nothing more than peace in her life. And for her memeories to leave her in peace as well. But no matter what she might have tried, they continued to haunt her. For all eternity it seemed to her.
Her mother, who moved in with her daughter shortly after Ryoko returned to Jurai, watched her daughter. She watched her daughter's sadness continue to grow each solemn day passing. She watched her daughter's tears fall from her golden eyes. She watched her daughter's love for life slowly die with each day. She felt her daughter's heart break every sad day that passed them by. She felt her daughter's happiness deminish to nothing. She felt her daughter dieing in the inside. And she could do nothing to help her. Which in the end, caused her own pain inside. She wanted so much for her daughter to be happy. To live the life that she wanted. But she could do nothing because the man Ryoko loved never seemed to love her back. No matter how much she wanted it.
And Ayeka too watched as her friend did her daily routine of her walk around the castle. She didn't know what to do to help her friend. She wanted so much to cheer her up, but had no clue what to do. She learned that Ryoko never finished her book that Tenchi had given her weeks ago. Almost months ago. So here she was, holding the book that Tenchi had given Ryoko, contemplating rather she should read it. Or if she should wait, and have Ryoko read it for herself. She asked her fiancee what she should or could do, but all he said was that for her to do what she felt right. And what she felt right now was to read the last entry and to find what Tenchi had said. Even though a part of her knew it was wrong, something inside of her told her to do it.
So now her she was, reading the last entry of Tenchi's book. When she was done, she felt like tears would fall from her eyes. She looked up and looked outside, watching the breeze rustle the leaves of the trees. She stood up and placed Tenchi's book back on the table where she found it and walked out of the room to her own. She found a few servents tidying it up and dismissed them, saying she wanted to be left alone.
When they left, she walked to a large mirror and pressed something on the wall, causing the mirror to flip around and become a large vidscreen. She typed something in on the keypad on the side of it and waited for something, or someone, to answer. When someone did, she saw the face of a surprised Tenchi looking striaght at her.
"Hey Ayeka! Nice to see ya!" he greeted with a small smile on his face.
"Hello Lord Tenchi. It's a pleasure to see you again as well."
"So, what did you call for?"
"It's..... It's about Ryoko."
"Ryoko? What about her? Is she there with you?"
"She's here. Just.... walking around right now."
"Well, what's wrong with her then?"
"Tenchi... She..... She's not herself lately."
"What do you mean "not herself"?"
"Lord Tenchi, for the past 2 weeks since we came back, all she's ever done is walk around the castle, mooping around. She's been doing nothing but crying and keeping to herself. She won't talk much anymore, it's like she's dieing inside. And no one knows why, except Washu...... and me."
"I don't understand. Has she ever read the whole book yet?"
"No, it's like she's totally forgotten about that...." Tenchi looked down in dismay, but looked back up at Ayeka at what he heard next. "But I have..."
"W...What? You read the last entry as well?..."
"Yes, I did...... Look Lord Tenchi. I love you, you know that. And even though I'm marrying someone else because of my father's wishes, I always will. Even if I do fall in love with him as well. You'll always have a place in my heart for all eternity. But... you can't just keep hiding or running away from things. You should've said something about it while you had a chance when we left. Then maybe she wouldn't be like this. And you know that. Deep down inside, you do." Tenchi looked down in shame at Ayeka's words. "Tomorrow, before lunch, I'm opening a portal over at your house. It's your choice if you come or not and tell what you've been meaning to for so long. And if you don't, I understand. But then you'll be missing the one, and probably only, chance to tell her. So I'll let you think about it. But for now, I need to get back. I have to find Ryoko so we can go take care of something for father tonite. Goodbye Lord Tenchi."
"...Goodbye Ayeka. Tell everyone I said hi, k?"
"Alright. Will do."
And with that, the screen went black. Tenchi sat down on the edge of his bed as the screen disappeared to from where it came from. Tenchi slowly walked out of his room and downstairs to the living room. He kept his eyes to the floor, acknowledging none of his surroundings and anyone that might have been there. He walked to the front window and looked out towards the lake. Nothing to him seemed right anymore since the departure of his two friends. And now... now it seemed worse to him. Nothing was what it was anymore, and he feared nothing ever would again.
Sasami, who has just walked out of the kitchen, noticed Tenchi standing by the window, his right hand and forehead leaned against the glass framing. Her normal, cheery dispostion turned into that of sadness as she watched her close friend sadly. She knew of his sadness for her sister's and best friend's departure. Even though she knew that she had known less about something that she couldn't put her finger on just yet, she had a pretty good idea. She sighed sadly and walked back into the kitchen to start lunch, knowing that there was nothing she could do.
When Tenchi finally snapped out of this daydreaming, she sighed and walked outside. He walked up the shrine steps, stopping when she saw some Sakura's. He quietly walked up to the one he always found Ryoko in, climbed to a large branch, and sat there quietly, just watching whatever was in front of him.
"And what are you doing up there boy? Shouldn't you be working in the fields right about now?"
Tenchi looked down in surprise, seeing his grandfather below him. 'How is it I never hear him come up to me?' Tenchi looked back up, ignoring the question that was asked of him. "What? Not talking to your grandfather now?"
"........ Grandpa, what did you do when you fell in love with grandma?"
"Hum? Well, as you can plainly see, I married her and stayed on earth. Why do you ask?"
"And what did Jurai have to say about it?"
"Father was angry at me of course because I chose her instead of marrying Ayeka. But I loved you grandmother. So I swore that I'd stay on earth until he accepted her. But why are you asking me these questions?"
"::sigh:: No reason really, I've just been thinking about a lot lately."
"Does this have to do with a certain space pirate and a princess?"
"Huh? You could say that. How did you guess?"
"The look in your eyes. Haven't I taught you anything these last ump-teen years?"
"::chuchkle:: Yea, yea. Eyes see straight to your soul. I remember. I remember. Who could forget. I've used that many times since the girls came here."
"Um, well, seems as though you forgot to use it once."
Tenchi looked down at his grandfather and sighed, understanding what he meant. He leaned his head against the bark of the tree and closed his eyes. "Why do things always seem to happen to me?"
"Because. You're a young man. You have to do a lot of things to get through life. And being the rightful hier to a throne doesn't help you much."
"::chuckle:: Good point..... Got a call from Ayeka today."
"Really? And how is she doing?"
"Fine I guess."
"What did she call for?"
"To tell me about Ryoko."
"Ummmm, and what about Ryoko that she wanted to tell you?"
"... Just that Ryoko hasn't been acting herself. Appearently she's been mooping around the palace. Not at all interested in anything it seemed."
"And you know why she's like this, don't you my boy?"
"Um hum. Unfortunately I do."
"Then why don't you do something about it? It might just make everything better."
"But I'm the one who started it in the first place."
"Which gives you the perfect excuse to make everything right. Just remember what I told you, listen to your heart, not you head."
And with that said, Katsuhito walked off, leaving the disgruntled Tenchi in the tree. He looked up into the blossoms above him and sighed. 'What am I going to do?....' After a few moments of silence, he made up his mind and jumped down, running back towards the house. He ran up to his room, typed something out on the keypad that lay on his desktop. As a screen appeared from a demension that Washu left behind, Ayeka's confused face could be seen from inside.
"Tenchi? What are you calling for?"
"Ayeka, answer a few questions for me, will ya?"
"Huh? Oh, sure I guess."
"Where are you opening at?"
"Oh, in Miss Washu's old lab. Just walk in. It'll be there."
"Where will I end up when I get there?"
"In my room. I didn't want anyone seeing you and thinking you were trying to break in."
"Alright. Could you do me a favor then?"
"What's that exactly?"
"Open the portal now for me will ya?"
"What? But why?"
"I'll explain everything when I get there. Just do this for me, ok?"
"........ ::sigh:: Alright Tenchi. Be downstairs and ready in five minutes. If you're not, then you'll just have to wait till tomorrow."
"No prob. Just as long as it's open in five minutes."
"It will. I'll see you later then Lord Tenchi."
Ayeka turned off her vidscreen and continued to look at it in shook. 'What is he planning?' she asked herself as she began typing in a new code on her keypad. And in a few minutes, her mirror was replaced by a portal. She typed in a time for the portal to hold and walked to a chair. Waiting to see if he'd make it through or not.
//With Tenchi//
Tenchi ran downstairs after having the vidscreen disappear once again. As he reached the livingroom, he found Kiyone, Mihoshi, and Sasami watching their soaps. "Hey Tenchi? What's all the hubbub?" asked Kiyone when she turned her attention to Tenchi.
"Nothing really. Just going to Jurai."
"Jurai?!" the three girls yelled in unison.
"Is there an echo in here? Yes Jurai. I have to go see Ryoko about something."
"What's that Tenchi?" asked Sasami when she walked up to him.
"Nothing that you need to worry about. Alright?"
"Can we come?" asked Mihoshi when she joined Sasami and stood next to her.
"Yea, it's been a couple of weeks. We'd like to see Ayeka and Ryoko again as well," said Kiyone as she too joined her friends.
Tenchi looked at his friends/family. Wondering if he should let them join him or not. Finally after debating it, for what seemed list almost an hour, he smiled and nodded his head. Conferming his answer.
"Yeah!" Sasami jumped up and hugged Tenchi. "We get to see Ryoko and Ayeka again!"
The others too were happy, all of them hugging and thanking Tenchi for letting them go with him to see their friends again. Soon after, a small spark could be heard in the closet behind Tenchi. Tenchi turned around and opened the door. And low-and-behold, there was the portal that Ayeka had opened. Tenchi ordered the others to follow him and to keep up, knowing that the portal didn't last long.
Tenchi and the other's ran through the now opened portal, the girls trying their best to keep up with Tenchi. When they finally reached the other end, they found themselves in the palace of Jurai, with Ayeka looking straight at them.
"Where is she?" asked Tenchi the moment he walked out of the portal and stepped on the clean tile of her room.
"Um, I'm not too sure. Try her room. On the balcony. It's 5 rooms down on the right. Left side," replied Ayeka just before Tenchi ran out of the room.
"Where is he going, sister?" asked Sasami as she walked up to Ayeka.
"Oh, you'll know soon. But right now, let's just leave him alone. I'll have someone get us some tea. And I'll explain what I can."
Ayeka then told one of the servents wondering the hall to get them some tea, then the rest of the day off.
//Back with Tenchi//
Just after Ayeka explained where Ryoko's room had been, he ran straight to the door and out. Not even bothering to say good-bye to his friends. He ran exactly to his right, five rooms down from Ayeka's to his left. When he walked inside, not even making a sound, he saw no one in the room. So he walked to the balcony, just as Ayeka had said, finding Ryoko sitting on the ledge, her knees to her chest. Her chin resting on top with her eyes closed. Ryoko not even hearing him walk up beside her.
Tenchi placed a hand on her shoulder, making her jump slightly. She almost fell off the side of the balcony when she saw who it was. When she gained her balance on the ground of the balcony, with the help of Tenchi, she quickly turned around and tried whipping off the dried tears that lay on her cheeks. Key word, tried.
Tenchi smiled slightly and turned her around so that she was facing him, although her head was still faced to her side, her eyes watching the ground. "Ryoko... Ryoko, please look at me." Ryoko shook her head, not wanting to look up at him. Afraid that she'd fall in love all over again, and then be hurt once more. "Ryoko, please." Tenchi placed his nimble fingers underneath her chin, forcing her her to look at him. "That's better. Now I can see who I'm talking to without feeling as though I'm talking to your hair." Ryoko smiled and chuckled slightly at Tenchi's attempt of humor. "See, now I can see your smile again. I was beginning to miss it."
Ryoko finally looked up at Tenchi, her golden embers looking straight into his chocolate orbs. "What is it you want that you came all the way here Tenchi?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Guess I wanted to see you again." Tenchi led Ryoko to a stone bench on the side of the balcony, having her take a seat next to him. "And plus, I needed to tell you something really important."
"Hum... And what might that be?"
Tenchi was quiet for a few moments, as though trying to piece together what he was going to say. "....... I'm not too sure how to say this... Ha, in fact, I don't think I'll ever be able to get this straight without it sounding backwards or something..... Ryoko, about me having to choose someone, which I've had to do for ages now... I finally chose one of you."
"... Really? That's a good thing. ::swallows:: And who might that be? Ayeka? Maybe even Sasami when she gets old enough? Hell, maybe even my mom?....."
"Ryoko, for one, your mom freaks me out at times, so that should tell you right there that it's not her."
Ryoko chuckled and stood up, taking a small sigh and walking to the end of her balcony. "Tenchi, I don't really care who it was that you chose. Just as long as you did..... And whoever it may be, I'll be happy for you... For both of you. Ha, I just wish I could've gotton a chance to prove myself. Instead of just being booted out of your choosing of women period."
"Ryoko, you were never booted from the 'listing' of women."
"Tenchi, just let me finish. Alright?..... I just want you to know this." Ryoko was looking straight ahead of her, not even daring to look behind her at Tenchi, who had walked up a few feet behind her. "... I loved you. You know that don't you? In fact, I still do. And I think I always will. And whoever it is that you chose, I hope you'll be happy. Even if it wasn't me..."
"Ryoko, stop this." Tenchi turned Ryoko around once again and lifted her chin to look into her eyes. Just wanting to lose himself in them like the first time he had oh so many years ago. "Ryoko, I'm glad that you said all that you did about whoever it was that I chose.. And I'm glad that you'll be happy for me. Especially since....."
Ryoko looked up at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears, yet also with curiosity. "'Especially what' Tenchi?"
Tenchi smiled at her, leaning forward so that he was whispering in her ear. "Especailly since it was you that I chose."
Ryoko's eye's became wise with shock. Her eye's filling with new unshed tears of joy. Her heart lifting of so many dreadful years of disappointment and anguish. Yet, she still felt sad. She felt sad for having her best friend's love for Tenchi slowly die away, and decay the piece of her heart that was filled with that love. She buried her face in Tenchi's shoulder, crying her new, joyful, yet saddened tears of her life.
Tenchi just held her close, whispering soothing words in her ear, just listening as her tears slowly died down and she finally looked up at him again. "I... I don't get it Tenchi, why did you chose me?"
"Because..." Tenchi slipped some misplaced hair behind her ear and whipped away the glistening tears from her feline features. "... I think I fell in love with you a long time ago, I just never knew it until resently(sp?)."
"Really? How long?"
"Years."
Ryoko smiled, her sadness slowly drifting away, somehow knowing that her friend, her best friend, Ayeka had wanted this. Tenchi smiled back and leaned in again. This time to give Ryoko their first, real kiss.
As their lips met, a wind began blowing. Sending fallen leaves to flow around them. Dancing around their bodies as they held each other. And as the wind blew by, Tenchi's book to Ryoko flew open. Pages blowing by, suddenly stopping at the very last entry. The entry read....
---Dear whoever is reading this. Whether it be my friends, my family, or just the night stars as I sit on the roof writing this. I have finally figured something out. Something I never thought I ever would. I figured out who I love. And it may sound strange, but I think I fell in love with her so long ago, and I didn't even realize it till now. But something about reading this book over helped me realize it. And I'm glad it did. Cause now I don't have to go around, having everyone's hopes of me loving them further berade their lives as I continue walking around not knowing a thing. As though not even knowing what love means. And even though this might break one person's, if not more, heart, I think she'll understand. Actually, I know she will. I just have that gut feeling.
But as to who I love. Here's a hint. Tall, beautiful, great personality, not afraid to show her true self if she feels anyone needs to know what it is. Cyan hair, golden cat eyes, a goddess. Have any clues?..... Yep, you got it right. Ryoko. Ryoko Hakubi is the one i love. I just want to know why I never realized it before. Maybe because I was always expected to know who I loved that I never really, truely looked inside my heart for the answer. But I'm glad I did, cause now I know I can at least tell the one who I do love, and not hurt the other's as much as I already might've.
And so I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna send this book/journel to the one I love. Send this to the one I know who truely deserves to read it. She has to right to know the truth. As to whether she'll except this as my answer to who I finally chose or not is beyond me. I'll just have to wait and find out. Hopefully she will read it though. Because then she knows that I love her. So I guess I have just this to say to you Ryoko if you are reading this.....
Ryoko Hakubi, ex-most wanted space pirate, now royal Jurain family. The only person who watched me and took care of me even though you weren't really there. The one who comforted me when my mother died. The demi- goddess who deserves more than I could possibly ever give her..... I love you. And even though this doesn't seem much of an "I love you" type deal, I truely do. I love you with the deepest, most precious part of my heart and soul, I love you more than you could possibly ever know. And I hope you realize this sometime soon. And I hope that someday, I have the guts to tell you in the furture, in front of you. And not in a stupid book. Whenever that may be. Maybe when you come back to us. Maybe when I ever get there. Who knows. All I can give you right now is the love through this book. And I hope that this might be enough to statisfy you until I can say it in person.
So here I am. Tenchi Masaki, in love with the most beautiful person in this universe. And I hope she reads this, or I tell her. And one day, I think I will get the courage to tell her. And when I do, then maybe we can live together in happiness, like my father and mother did before she died. Then maybe she'll have the life she's always wanted. But until then, this'll just have to do. And remember Ryoko, no matter what, I'll always love you.
Your's truely, Tenchi Masaki---
~*~ FIN ~*~
A.N. There you all are! The last chapter! Unless you wanted me to continue, then I could probably think of something to continue this with. Actually, I probably could. Who knows. So PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ, PLZ (ok, i think you get the drift) REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would so love you guys (or girls) forever! Well, friend wise anyway. :p So plz do so and tell me what you all thought of this whole story. And now that I have a new story out, you all can read that one too! lol. You don't have to if you don't want to, but I'd really appreciate it if you all did. So until I see you guys again, Ja!!!!!
~*~ Q.M. ~*~