**** Cont. on, Chapter 3. Hope you all enjoy! Note; These are not MY characters, a couple of new characters are mine, I do not own the rights to the Tenchi series/ova. *****
No Regrets , Chapter 3
Ryoko opened the door pausing for a moment, taking a couple steps walking in all the way as Washu walked in behind her.
"Hmm… this is cute" Washu spoke coming up thru the living room looking around setting a duffle bag down. Ryoko closed the door behind her setting her bag down sighing deeply. The house was already furnished thanks to Washu working her magic and was able to furnish it before Ryoko moved in.
"Thanks mom" Ryoko spoke looking to her for a moment making her way across the living room looking to the kitchen with a partial wall separating the two areas.
"Don't mention it… you sure you don't need me to stay a few days to help you get settled in?" Washu asked following Ryoko into the bedroom.
"I'm fine..." Ryoko spoke looking to the king size bed, the dresser, with a flat screen hung on the wall. Glancing to the few boxes lined up against the wall in the corner of the bedroom.
"Alright… I don't think there's anything in the spare guest room for right now. Once you get situated, I'll help you start getting baby stuff. If you need me, just say so… I can be here in a second" Washu spoke walking up to her.
"I know…thank you" Ryoko spoke. Washu smiled softly hugging Ryoko tightly. Shaking her head Ryoko hugged her back.
"Ok Washu…" Ryoko spoke leaning back.
"Alright, well, enjoy… you have enough money for food and stuff in the top drawer in your dresser… Enjoy…." Washu spoke smiling as she saluted her, disappearing. Ryoko sighed deeply rubbing the back of her neck making her way to the dresser opposite of the bed. Opening the top drawer, pausing for a moment arching an eyebrow grabbing the thick wad of money with a rubber band around it.
Washu worked more than her magic, Ryoko sighed putting the car in park looking to the grocery store off to the side of her, Glancing to the time, it was almost 3. She hated public places, especially now. Turning the key opening the door fixing her black tank top about her waist wearing a pair of blue jeans with black flip flops wrapping her arms around her making her way into the store. The store was bigger than it looked, and never really going to grocery shopping like this by herself was kind of nice. Able to buy her own food without anyone making a meal for hers when she didn't like it.
Leaning her arms on the shopping cart handle slowly looking to all the food items on the shelves, she didn't quiet now what she wanted. Coming to a slow stop looking to all the many coffee brands and flavors.
"Hmm… "Ryoko spoke leaning up grabbing a black and white medium sized bag looking at the label.
"You like coffee huh" a voice spoke up coming from the side of her. Looking to the side to the man coming to a stop beside her, then turning her head looking to his dark hazel eyes.
"If I didn't, I wouldn't be looking at it" Ryoko spoke turning setting it in her cart.
"Hmm… I see. There's a new little coffee shop down the street from here…." he spoke up. Ryoko turned holding a hand up as he stopped in mid-sentence. Looking over his dark green almost black short hair, that was wavy coming to a stop to the middle of his neck. His tanned skin complimented his hair and dark hazel eyes. His build looked as if he had worked out some through his gray t shirt and black jeans with black boots.
"You come up to a random woman in the middle of a grocery store asking her about coffee than what… ask me for coffee? Sorry dude, I'm not interested. Theirs many of other woman wondering about here" Ryoko spoke turning to her cart leaning her arms on the handle.
"Well, good point. There are lot of other woman around. Any other guy could have come up to you… but I did. I honestly, saw you walk in earlier and thought you were very pretty… so I thought maybe, she'd like to go get a cup of coffee at the new coffee shop down the street… no harm done" he spoke up shrugging his shoulders. Ryoko starred at him for a moment, sighing deeply.
"Why?" she asked.
"I've never been there before, and you were looking at the coffee so I thought it the perfect opportunity." Ryoko thought for a moment, then looked to her cart that was half filled. She didn't know anyone in this town, maybe he was just a harmless guy who liked coffee.
"I promise I'm not a creep if that's what you're thinking, Honest..." He spoke up.
"Fine… coffee and that's it. Where?" she asked.
"Off of main street… it's called Sakura Café, you'll see it. Say… in an hour?" he asked.
"Ok…you try anything stupid and you're dead to me" Ryoko spoke leaning back off the cart turning around walking away. Snickering the man shook his head turning.
Walking through the door Ryoko looked around as the smell of coffee filled her senses. The coffee shop was small and quaint. A few tables with chairs laid about, as well with a few decorative chairs laid off to the side of the coffee shop. People sat at a couple of the tables sipping their coffees talking amongst themselves. Wrapping her arms around herself looking around, the man from earlier stood up from a table at the corner of the room making his way up to her.
"Part of me didn't think you'd come" he spoke as the two of them walked up to the counter.
"It's still early" Ryoko spoke.
"Yes, it is… now… what type of coffee do you like?" he asked looking up to the menu up on the wall. Ryoko turned her head pausing for a moment arching an eyebrow.
"Uhh…" she spoke. The man turned his head looking to her smirking.
"Don't know?" he asked.
"Surprise me" Ryoko spoke reaching to her back pocket grabbing her money.
"My treat… you like hot or cold?" Glancing to him for a moment pausing.
"Cold I guess" she spoke. Nodding his head, the man took a step up to the counter as he ordered their drinks.
Sitting down Ryoko sipped her caramel frappicino pausing for a moment as the guy sat across from her.
"Names Hige, by the way" he spoke setting his drink down holding a hand out. Smirking she shook his hand leaning back into the cushioned chair.
"Ryoko" she spoke.
"So, good?" he asked.
"Yes… thank you. I still don't understand why me out of everyone in the store you choose to come up to me" Ryoko spoke leaning back a little grabbing her drink.
"Like I said… I thought you were really pretty… I honestly don't come up to women like this."
"Right… so what's your story?" Ryoko asked.
"Well what do you want to know?" Hige asked.
"Attached…job… why me again… why coffee?" Ryoko spoke sipping her drink.
"Hmm… No, not attached. I work at the shipyard as maintenance… and like I said, it's not every day you come across a beautiful woman. And I am a coffee lover, always have been. Was born here… So, what about you, are you attached to anyone? job, how long have you lived around here?" Hige asked reaching for his cup.
"Well, not attached, I work for my mom sometimes… and I literally just moved into town today… I used to live in Yokohama" Ryoko spoke, not knowing if she had spoke of Jurai or not, hardly anyone knew of that planet but the rest of the gang.
"Really… you ever been to Toyko?"
"A few times for vacation."
"Why'd you move?" Hige asked sipping his coffee.
"Wanted my own life, I lived with a big family" Ryoko spoke looking to her coffee cup for a moment. Hige looked to her, setting his coffee down.
"Any more questions?" Ryoko asked raising an eyebrow smirking.
"I can think of a lot more " Hige spoke smiling.
"You live around here?" Ryoko spoke.
"Yea, just up the street actually. Was born and raised here. If it wasn't for my mom and sister still being here, I'd moved a long time ago" Hige spoke leaning back a little in his chair looking across the room as a couple of young girls walked in.
"What about your dad?" Ryoko asked leaning her elbows on the table.
"Got a stepdad, real one took off on us when she was pregnant with me… and hadn't seen him since. I rather not know how he is… at least with me being around her I know she's safe besides my stepdad, along with my sister." Ryoko nodded her head looking to her coffee cup for a moment.
"Similar to my story… my father took off when I was about 3-4. Not really knowing why either…" Ryoko spoke shrugging grabbing her coffee cup. Hige leaned an arm back on the back of the chair looking to her for a moment, then reaching for his coffee.
"Thanks for coming by the way… I really don't get the chance to be graced by such pretty girls" he spoke. Ryoko arched an eyebrow looking to him reaching for her cup.
"I really wish you'd stop saying that….and why not?" she asked.
"I'm being serious… With the way my work schedule is I work nights, so usually when I get off, I'm asleep most of the day. I pretty much have no life…" he spoke smirking.
"Could be worse…" Ryoko spoke sipping her coffee.
"True… so what type of work do you do for your mom?" he asked.
"Data entry coding type of thing. It's easy and she pays pretty good."
"Oh ok…. How old are you by the way… I'm 27" he spoke. Looking to him for a moment meeting his hazel eyes, wrapping her left arm around her stomach reaching for her cup with the other hand.
"25" she spoke, knowing it'd scare him away with her real age of being thousands of years old. Nodding his head Hige finished off his coffee looking to the clock across the room.
"Want another cup?" he asked. Looking to her cup, finishing it off leaning back.
"Maybe I should get going, I'm sure you have other things to do rather than entertain me" Ryoko spoke.
"Like what… I'm off tonight so either I'd go home and work around the house or go see my mom or sister… nothing much else to do in my world" he spoke smirking.
"Well, I do have some more unpacking to do anyways so… "Ryoko spoke leaning back a little.
"Maybe we can meet up again, next time I'll take you to a bigger coffee shop" Hige spoke winking.
"Ok…" Ryoko spoke smirking shaking her head.
"Can I give you my number… or yours?" he asked. Ryoko paused for a moment, forgetting her cell phone was in her back pocket, reaching for it seeing Washu had already texted her 6 times.
"What's yours?" Hige asked.
"713-504-1387" Ryoko spoke looking to him,. Nodding his head, leaning back setting his phone down.
"Thanks…. Can I ask you one more question…." he asked. Ryoko looked to him getting ready to stand up.
"What?."
"I hope you don't mind me asking… it's kinda personal…" he spoke rubbing the back of his neck. Arching an eyebrow Ryoko looked to him.
"When is the baby due?" he asked pausing looking to her. Ryoko just stared at him, shocked he even knew.
"I could tell sometimes how you wrap your arms about yourself… I kinda got a sixth sense about stuff like that…If I went too far, I'm really sorry… " Hige spoke.
"No…You're fine… I'm due in February…." Ryoko spoke leaning back against the chair. Hige nodded his head looking to her for a moment, leaning up he leaned his elbows on the table.
"Is that why you left Okahama?" He asked.
"Yea… he fell in love with another woman…" Ryoko spoke gulping, sighing deeply. Arching an eyebrow Hige paused for a moment.
"And just left you on the back burner… damn… I'm really sorry to hear that… makes me really pissed for a guy treating a woman that way especially with child" he spoke shaking his head sighing.
"Yea well it is what it is… I've dealt with shit a lot worse than this and made it on my own before so…" Ryoko spoke looking to him wrapping her arms around herself leaning back in the chair.
"You knew and asked me for coffee anyways?" Ryoko asked. Hige smirked nodding his head looking to her.
"Why… that doesn't bother you that I'm pregnant with another guy's kid?" Ryoko asked. Shaking his head Hige shrugged.
"Nope… my mom was in the same position and the guy she lives with has been with there for years… they're not married but their together. Ever since I was a kid… there's nothing wrong with it, isn't the girls' fault in some cases. The baby didn't ask to be here so, it needs a chance as well" he spoke. Ryoko just stared at him, what he had said really hit home, making her feel good.
"Well said…once again thank you for the coffee, and the company" she spoke.
"Not a problem…see you next time?" he asked winking to her. Smirking a little Ryoko stood up slowly grabbing her phone.
"We'll see" she spoke turning, looking to him one more time than turning walking out the coffee shop.
Closing the door behind her locking it Ryoko looked around her new home. A couple lights were still on, the darkness beginning to creep its way outside. Already calling Washu telling her not to worry, and to stop being an overly worried mother. Sighing softly slipping her shoes off wanting to get a hot shower with the thought of calling it a night. Flicking the light switch glancing around the bedroom for a moment, thanking Washu silently for the furniture. Pausing as her cell phone beeped reaching for it from her back pocket reading the text message from Hige. Smirking at the hello over yonder message, writing back only saying hi. Coming up to her dresser rummaging through her drawers for some clothes pausing for a moment listening to her cell phone as it beeped again. Smirking shaking her head reaching for it Hige send a smiley face with a rose. Ok… Ryoko thought sending back a smiley face, setting her phone down on the sink counter reaching to the tub turning the hot water on.
Resting back in the bed against the pillows sighing deeply pulling her damp hair up into a pony tail glancing around the room for a moment. The bedroom was a lot bigger than the one she had back home. The bed a king size bed, dark beige carpet, off white colored walls. A couple paintings of flowers and animals laid about the walls, with a dark oak dresser on one wall and a flat screen with a coffee table and a small love seat surrounding it up near the other end of the room. Wrapping her arms about herself slightly shivering. Yea, she enjoyed being by herself, but she wondered what the others were doing, and if any of them missed her. Especially Tenchi, doubting the thought knowing he was too obsessed with Ayeka. Gulping, nausea seemed to swirl around strong. Turning reaching for the remote flicking the TV on leaning back a little tightening her arms around her.
Rolling over slowly sighing deeply Ryoko snuggled beneath the covers, suddenly pausing opening her eyes arching an eyebrow. Leaning up on an elbow looking to the door sighing already knowing as she crawled out of bed reaching for her phone making her way to the door. Wrapping her arms around her setting her phone in her pocket to her black pajama pants wearing a dark gray tank top coming to a slow stop into the kitchen walkway. Leaning against the doorway, arching an eyebrow looking to her mother stand at the stove flipping a couple pancakes.
"I knew this would happen… Why are you here?" Ryoko asked as Washu turned her head slightly, grinning turning to the island counter behind her reaching for a plate.
"I gotta make sure you eat, besides I wanted to make sure you got settled in ok last night " Washu spoke setting a couple pancakes on the plate beside the eggs and a hash browns.
"I could've made my own… and yes I did fine last night" Ryoko spoke coming up to the island counter sitting across from Washu as she set the plate down.
"The girls miss you" Washu spoke looking to her for a moment than turning to the stove. Ryoko eyed her for a moment, poking around her eggs with her fork.
"Yea… Has Tenchi said anything?" she asked.
"Ayeka asked about you, but Tenchi hasn't…" Washu spoke turning holding a plate in her hand sitting taking a bite of her hash brown.
"So, I was going to set your laptop up, if you still wanted to do some work. It's easy you know how it works" Washu spoke, turning standing making her way to her fridge.
"That's fine" Ryoko spoke.
"You ok on money?" Washu asked glancing back to her setting the orange juice down on the counter.
"Yea, haven't made a dent in it yet."
"Good… if you need more let me know."
"I'll be fine Washu, stop worrying about me. I already checked the account and know when the rent is due, you paid a few months in advanced, along with the car. I'm not a kid… I feel like your pitting me…" Ryoko spoke.
"No, it's not pity. I was a single mom and had no one when I had you… you remember right as a kid?. I don't want you going through any of that, it was hard enough keeping a job, a kid, everything. You had no choice in this unlike me." Looking to her as she spoke, Washu set a couple glasses down as she spoke.
"I remember…" Ryoko spoke. Her dark green eyes looked over Ryoko for a moment, sighing softly leaning her arms on the counter.
"Pretty simple… a lot easier than my computers" Washu spoke setting the laptop down on the coffee table leaning back against the couch sitting beside Ryoko.
"Alright… thanks" Ryoko spoke standing up making her way into the kitchen. Stretching her arms above her head glancing to the TV, pausing looking to Ryoko's cell phone as it beeped. Arching an eyebrow glancing back to the kitchen than reaching for the cell phone.
"Really… gone for 5 seconds and you're already snooping" Ryoko spoke appearing on the couch sitting beside Washu reaching for her phone as Washu held it up out of her reach.
"It beeped."
"I heard it, give it."
"Who it is?" Washu asked grinning. Ryoko shook her head setting her cup of orange juice down looking to her mom for a moment eyeing her.
"No one" Ryoko spoke. Lowering the phone glancing to the screen.
"Hige huh… not even 24 hours of being gone and you already have a guys number…"
"Stop it's not like that." Smirking Washu gave Ryoko the phone leaning back.
"Well?" Washu spoke.
"He's no one Washu…"
"Apparently he is, cause you have his name and number."
"Ugh…just a guy I met yesterday ok, drop it and leave it alone."
"Hmm.. Just met huh?."
"Mom… please. It's not what you think…" Ryoko spoke leaning her elbows on her knees sighing.
"Mom… you don't use that very often."
"Just a guy I met getting groceries yesterday ok… we met for coffee and that's it."
"Yea… cute?" Washu asked. Eyeing her for a moment Ryoko reached for her drink.
"Give me his number and I can find anything on him." Sighing deeply Ryoko leaned back crossing her legs glancing to the TV for a moment than to her mom.
"Ok ok… well I better get going. You should be all set with the laptop, if you need anything let me know ok, I'm mean it. You feeling ok?."
"I know… and I'm fine."
"Nausea?" Washu asked.
"Yea…"
"Bad?."
"On and off…" Ryoko spoke eyeing her.
"Alright…. Well get some rest ok…" Washu spoke standing up stretching.
"K, later" Washu spoke saluting Ryoko, suddenly disappearing. Sighing deeply Ryoko leaned up grabbing her cell phone off the coffee table reading Higes text.
Placing the laptop down sighing deeply, glancing to the time it was only 1:56. This day seemed to be dragging by, so slowly!. Standing turning making her way into the kitchen pausing for a moment wrapping her arms around herself glancing around the room. She hadn't noticed how quiet it was, without the others around. Usually someone was talking, or someone screaming or fussing at Mihoshi about something she wasn't supposed to do. Sasami was always making tea, cooking, or cleaning. Or the occasional soap opera where almost everyone would wind up falling asleep by the end of the episode. Turning slightly looking back into the living room, knowing she was better off. With the wedding about a month away, knowing only being around Tenchi and Ayeka would cause more trouble than everyone thought it would. She would just get in the way… and not wanting waiting on her or giving her pity for the man she loved, or so she thought, marrying another woman. Taking a deep breath, she could get through this. Thinking back in the past, knowing she had been through a hell of a lot worse when she had lived with Kagato, being forced to. Now on her own, she had to make things work, She would be a mother once the baby was born, and she needed to grow up and become the person her baby needed. Running a hand through her hair making her way back through the living room turning the TV off heading to the bedroom for her car keys with her cell phone in hand, getting out of the house for a little while might do some good. Getting used to the surroundings would be nice. Not having to worry about any one else but her was what she needed, the fresh air, a different setting.
Wrapping her arms about her looking around to the shops surrounding her, the mall was a lot bigger than she expected it to be. 2 story high, and numerous shops, some she hadn't even heard of. People walked to and from different stores, conversing among each other. Glancing around the wide opened area, feeling a little bit vulnerable in a place she had never been, especially now carrying a child? Tightening her arms around herself coming up to the food court ahead. Knots seemed to swirl in her stomach as it began turning into nausea. Ear twitching her heard her phone beep lowering a hand grabbing it from her back pocket looking to Higes' text, gulping she felt as if she was going to throw up. Placing her phone back into her back pocket looking to the bathrooms up ahead making her way there. Closing the bathroom stall door behind her leaning her head back taking a deep breath. Thankfully there wasn't anyone in here. Her phone beeped again as she leaned down a little resting her hands on her knees. Maybe coming to the mall was a bad idea? Slowly leaning back wanting to teleport either to the car or home. She'd be able to pick her car up later…. Suddenly leaning forwards getting sick to her stomach.
Appearing in her car, leaning her head back against the seat head rest sighing deeply closing her eyes. Resting her hands on on top of her stomach lifting her head wanting to go home. The nausea seemed to subside a little, but still swirled around feeling like it was tying in knots. Reaching for her keys, then her phone texting Hige back starting the car making her way back home.
Laying on her side bringing the sheet up to her shoulder cuddling against her pillows looking to her phone as Washu texted about a deposit to her account. Then Hige texted back asking what plans she had for the weekend, tomorrow being Friday. Not really thinking about it, not making anything at all. The girls want to come and see you sometime soon Washu spoke up telepathically. That's fine Ryoko replied closing her eyes wrapping her arms around herself tightly trying to swallow away the nausea. The room darkened with the sun going down, not even the TV or the lamps were on. The air felt cool, just what she needed to be able to sleep off the nausea, if she could. Her phone beeped one more time as she opened an eye looking to Higes text asking if she was alright. Yea sure, just been throwing up like usual for being pregnant, how are you? Deciding to just tell him she was tired and wanted to lay down for a while would suffice. Writing back Hige said he'd hope shed get some rest, and he'd talk to her later. Setting her phone down she cuddled back beneath the sheets closing her eyes.
Setting the plate down to the table Sasami turned looking to Washu as she appeared at the other side of the kitchen.
"Hi little Washu" Sasami spoke walking to the stove.
"Hey Sasami, smells great" Washu replied making her way to the fridge.
"Thank you…. Have you heard from Ryoko today?" Sasami asked looking to Washu from stirring the soup in the pan.
"Yes, she's fine. She misses you guys" Washu spoke opening a soda pop taking a long sip.
"Maybe I'll take you girls over there this weekend to go see her" Washu spoke coming up to the counter leaning against it as Tenchi walked into the kitchen as the door slowly swung close behind him.
"Wow really Washu! That'd be so wonderful" Sasami spoke almost jumping for joy as Ryo-ohki came jumping up on the counter from the laundry room meowing, or uh, cha-woing.
"What would?" Tenchi asked making his way across to the laundry room.
"Washu might take us to go see Ryoko at her new place" Sasami spoke looking to Tenchi. Coming to a slow stop Tenchi looked from Sasami to Washu for a long moment.
"Is she… doing ok?" he asked.
"Yes Tenchi, she's fine" Washu spoke eyeing him. Nodding his head softly, he turned back to the door walking out. Sasami bit her bottom lip looking to Washu for a moment.
"That was kind of awkward…" she spoke.
"Yea, I know. He's not coming…" Washu spoke leaning up off the counter winking at her as she smiled, than disappearing back to her lab.
Turning the hot water off leaning back against the side of the tub Ryoko leaned her head back sighing deeply. The steam swirled around; the hot water felt so good against her skin. Thank God the nausea had faded, barely even their anymore. Stretching her legs out leaning back a little more letting the water come up to her chin. Hearing her phone beep from the bedroom on the night stand she tuned it out soaking up as much as she could. Leaning up a little running her hands through her wet hair stretching a little deciding to get out. Drying off getting changed into her blue and gold kimono making her way to the bed sitting grabbing her cell phone. Arching an eyebrow not expecting Kiyone to text her, letting her know they missed her and was told to let her know if she needed anything. Replying back standing as she made her way into the kitchen turning on a couple lights on her way wondering what to make for dinner. Writing Hige back coming up to the fridge setting her phone down opening the freezer. It was already after 8, not planning on sleeping that long she felt like she was starving. Pausing for a moment looking to her phone as it rang, answering it looking back into the freezer.
"Hey you, what are you doing?" Hige spoke up.
"Hey…nothing really, trying to figure out what I want to eat…. you at work?"
"Yea on break real quick, what you doing Saturday night?" he asked.
"Nothing that I know of…"
"I'm off the next three nights, would you like to get some dinner?" Looking to the side for a moment off behind her thinking, wondering if this was a good idea.
"Hige, I don't kn…"
"It'll be fun. Don't feel like you have too because I'm asking, I can show you around town a little" he spoke.
"Alright… what time?" she asked wrapping her other arm around her stomach.
"Say… 6?. I'll pick you up if that's ok."
"That's fine, I'll text you my address" she replied.
"Great, thank you. Gotta go ok sweetie" he spoke hanging up. Bringing the phone down starring at it for a moment, sighing softly setting the phone down on the counter as her stomach growled.
***********That's it for now, More to come! Hope you enjoyed. ******************
